DAPHNE, Ala. — The next program meeting of the Baldwin County Historical Society will be as follows: Sunday, Nov. 29, 2:30 p.m., at the Daphne Senior Center, 2605 Highway 98 in Daphne.

Colonial plantations on Mobile Bay will be the topic.

During the French, British and Spanish colonial periods from the 1700s to the early 1800s, numerous family plantations were established on the rivers and bays along the northern Gulf coast of Alabama and Mississippi. Several plantation sites have been excavated over the last 15 years by the Center for Archaeological Studies at the University of South Alabama. These excavations and plantation family histories will be discussed.

Other topics will include historical illustrations, maps and documents, plantation economics, physical layout, architectural remains, and archaeological evidence of slaves.

Presenter Bonnie Gums, archaeologist at the Center for Archaeological Studies, has been an archaeologist for 20 years. She received her BA and MA from Southern Illinois University focusing on French colonial archaeology in Illinois. She began her archaelogical work in the Midwest before relocating to Mobile 14 years ago. She has been involved in excavations at Old Mobile, Fort Mims, Fort Conde Village in downtown Mobile, and many other sites in southwestern Alabama. Her special interests include historic pottery kilns on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay and colonial plantations on the Gulf Coast.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Admission is free and the general public is welcome.

Members’ annual dues of $10 per person are due if not already paid.