This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

--^vernor William F. Winter June 23, 1980 page 3
it is too late for that, perhaps a portion of the site can still be saved or, barring that, at least excavated extensively. It is the consensus of the membership of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Mississippi Archaeological Association that this area is truly representative of the Poverty Point people and as culturally significant as the Jackson Landing Site which-was declared a State Archaeological Landmark and saved from destruction.
The Mulatto Bayou area in Hancock County is the only known area on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to have approximately 4,000 years of continuous habitation. In addition to the Claiborne and Cedarland Sites and the Jackson Landing earthworks, a temple mound of the Mississippian Period is situated south of the earthworks, as well as shell middens containing ceramics from every period, except for fiber-tempered pottery which was found at Claiborne. Artifacts from the historic period are found north of the earthworks, and near these sites also was the historic J. F. H. Claiborne House, demolished by the Port and Harbor Commission bulldozers in 1969. How rewarding it would be to save ju3t a bit of this prehistory.
Because of your sympathy with the cause of archaeology and historic preservation, we are appealing to you to ask the Department of Archives and History to consider further investigation of this most significant area while there is still time. With the rate of construction going on, destruction of the site is imminent.
Sincerely yours,
MISSISSIPPI ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
far. C.7^.
Reverend C. H. Stone, Jr.
President
___.
Mary G. Neumaier Secretary-Treasurer
cc:	Elbert	Hilliard	/
Director, Mississippi Archives and History
Co put	^	■
Co.