Port Louis: An Archaeological and Historical Survey of the First Capital of the Falkland Islands

Robert Philpott is a research associate in the Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, and an archaeological consultant. He has been researching the archaeology of the Falkland Islands since 1992. An initial survey of the first British colony at Port Egmont was followed by investigations of the Patagonian Missionary Society settlement on Keppel Island, Falkland Islands Company cattle ranching sites and the company headquarters at Darwin.Other research interests include the colonial archaeology of the Leeward Islands, and the Iron Age and later archaeology of the North West of England. He is a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

• Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Early Discoveries in the Falklands and Introduction to Port Louis The Falkland IslandsThe Pre-Colonial Era: A Prehistoric Human Presence?Discovery and Early Sightings18th-Century Voyages of ExplorationIntroduction to the Settlement History Chapter 2: The Archaeological Survey Origin of the ProjectAims of the ProjectThe Survey MethodologyGeology and SoilsThe Topography of Port LouisCondition of the SiteTechnological Advances: Drone Mapping and Photogrammetry Chapter 3: Natural Resources IntroductionWildlifeIntroduced LivestockImpact of Human Settlement Chapter 4: Foundation and French Occupation, 1764-7 The Origin of the French SettlementBougainville’s arrival at Port Saint-LouisThe British ExpeditionsThe Final Form of the French SettlementLe Moine’s Projected Town and CitadelThe Spanish ObjectionThe French Settlement: the archaeological surveyThe French Defences: the Fort (F5), Powder Magazine (F89) and Battery (F108)The Apartment House (F93, F11, F9)Turf Building (F8)The Projected BuildingsThe Commandant’s House (F103) and Garden (F102)Other French BuildingsTrackways and Ramps (F115, F125, F96, F121)The Tannery (F118, F138, F100)The BoatyardGardens and PlantationsGarden (F84, F85)Garden on Main Headland (F110, F111)Other Gardens (F24, F148)The Tanning Process in the 18th Century Chapter 5: The Spanish Occupation, 1767-1811 The Spanish GarrisonThomas Falkner’s Account, 1774Food SupplyConflict with Britain 1770-71: Port EgmontPuerto Soledad: the First DecadesPresidios in Spanish North AmericaThe BuildingsMalaspina’s Expedition at Puerto de la SoledadThe Final Years of Puerto SoledadSpanish Estancias and Other Establishments in East FalklandThe Spanish Settlement 1767-1811: the archaeological surveyThe Spanish Governor’s House (F103)Presidio and Quartel (F109)Defensive Works: the Spanish Fort (F6)The Hospital (site of F12)Group of Official Buildings near the JettyThe Archaeological EvidenceThe First Spanish Chapel (F70)A Further Group of Official BuildingsSpanish Buildings to the West of the Careenage EntranceGardensObservations on the BuildingsBuilding Materials: Clay BricksThe Settlement during the Abandonment Chapter 6: Abandonment of the Settlement (1811-1820) Argentine Report of 1816The Uranie Shipwreck, 1820The Coquille Expedition 1822Duperrey’s Plan, 1820The Ruined House of the Governor (F103) Chapter 7: United Provinces at Port Louis, 1820-21, 1824 and 1826-1833 David Jewett and The United Provinces at Port LouisVernet and Pacheco, 1823Vernet as Military and Political CommanderBritish Visitors to Port LouisVernet and the Lexington IncidentJoseph Addyman’s HouseThe British Reaction to the Events of 1832The Settlement under the United Provinces: the archaeological surveyMaría Sáez de Vernet’s Diary 1829References to Earlier BuildingsHouse of Louis Vernet (F109)Corral (F46)New Building Work under VernetThe Cemetery (F37)Gardens and Tree-planting under VernetVernet’s Claim against the British GovernmentVernet’s Corrals Chapter 8: The British Occupation at Port Louis, 1833-1844 The British Assertion of SovereigntyFitzRoy at Port LouisThe Beagle and Charles Darwin at Port LouisThe Settlement, 1834-1837Vernet’s Claim against the British GovernmentVernet and the LafonesThe British at Port Louis: Robert Lowcay 1838-39Naval Officer Lieut. John Tyssen, 1839-42The Problem of AccommodationGeorge Whitington’s Attempts to Colonise the IslandsThe British Government Proposal, 1840Moody at Port Louis, 1842-44James Clark Ross’s Visit, 1842The Government LivestockThe Projected Town of AnsonThe Initial SurveySales of Town and Country PlotsPlanning the New TownThe Transfer of Government from Port Louis to StanleyA Letter from Charles DarwinPort Louis after 1844Decline of the Settlement at Port LouisThe Division of Port Louis and the LafonesThe Robson Era (1876-1997)Port Louis SouthManning’s Portable Colonial CottagesThe British Settlement: the archaeological surveySourcesGovernment House (F109)Other British HousesOther StructuresThe CorralsThe Visit of James Clark Ross, 1842Buildings probably Constructed by RossOther BuildingsFurther New Buildings in 1842-3GardensStructures and Installations of Uncertain DateLivestock InstallationsMaritime FeaturesGardensBuildings of Uncertain Date Chapter 9: The Fishing Establishment at Salthouse Point, Fish Creek Location and Topographical SituationHistorical BackgroundVernet’s Fishing EstablishmentFish-House Creek under the BritishThe Archaeological SurveyBoundary Bank and Ditch (F130)Turf building (F127)Turf building (F128)Structure (F129)Turf building (F131)Dam? (F132)Turf building (F133)Turf building (F134)Turf building (F135)Fish-Trap (F139)Hollows (animal enclosures?) (F140, F141) Chapter 10: Material Culture: The Potential of Finds Assemblages The Potential of Material CultureThe Material Culture of the GauchosFlora and FaunaArtefact Assemblages from Port Louis: Case StudiesThe Ceramic Finds – an OverviewLeather recovered during survey at Port Louis Chapter 11: Concluding Themes  References Abbreviations Appendix 1: The Archaeological Features