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SCIAA Newsletter - Legacy & PastWatch
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6-2014

Legacy - June 2014

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Inside. . .
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Albert Goodyear Inaugural Recipient
of the Breakthrough Leadership in
Research Award

Five Officers Escape Camp Sorghum

VOL. 18, NO. 1, JUNE 2014
RESEARCH
Volunteer Opportunities in Topper Lab
Tom Pertierra––Distiguished
Archaeologist of the Year
Excavations at Camp Asylum
Archaeology Social Media
Probate Record of William Wilson

SAVANNAH RIVER
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH
PROGRAM
Dating Mound B at Hollywood Site
23rd Annual South Carolina Archaeology
Month Poster Albert Goodyear is Recognized with
MARITIME RESEARCH “Breakthrough Leadership in Research” Award
Charleston Harbor Stone Fleets Research All of us at SCIAA are proud to join in the some of his colleagues argue (not without
Nate Fulmer Joins Maritime Research congratulations to Al Goodyear for receiving the some controversy) that Topper also has a
Division “Breakthrough Leadership in Research” award. pre-Clovis component that significantly pre-
This is the inaugural year of these awards dates traditionally accepted dates for the
Maritime Research Division Field Training
through the university’s Office of Research, so colonization of North America. Intriguingly,
Course it is particularly gratifying to have one of our the Clovis deposit at Topper has provided key
own recognized as one of the first recipients. elemental markers indicative of the impact of a
OFFICE OF STATE Although Al has a lengthy and diverse record of possible comet strike around 12,900 B.P.; some
ARCHAEOLOGIST research, his ‘Breakthrough Leadership Award’ researchers believe this impact may account for
Historic Camden Saved from Bulldozer was made with specific recognition of his a wide pattern of late Pleistocene extinctions.
Bat Creek Tablet Research / Exhibit at contributions to scholarly and public outreach In keeping with the mission of SCIAA
Cherokee Museum via his long-term research at major Paleoindian to explore and share the heritage of South
sites in Allendale County, SC that date to at least Carolina with as wide an audience as possible,
Historic Peteet Canoe on Display at
13,000 B.P. Al’s work has had a considerable impact by
Oconee Heritage Center Since 1996, Al has had over 1,000 members virtue of engaging over 40 scientists from
of the public join in his excavations at the well- around the world, by leading to numerous
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH known Paleoindian (or Clovis) site of Topper, theses and dissertations by graduate students,
TRUST / SCIAA DONORS as well as at the nearby sites of Big Pine Tree and by training a generation of avocational
ART Grants in 2014 and Charles. In 2012, all of these efforts led to archaeologists from all walks of life. From all of
the installation of a permanent exhibit at USC your colleagues, thanks for a job well done!
Salkehatchie. In partnership with Dean Ann
Thank you for your generous support of Carmichael of that campus, a display featuring
the Archaeological Research Trust (ART) artifacts from these significant Clovis sites was
Endowment Fund and the printing of installed in the Library. The exhibit is free to the
Legacy. Please send donations in the public.
A national research community dedicated to
enclosed envelope to Nena Powell Rice
addressing questions related to late Pleistocene
USC/SCIAA, 1321 Pendleton Street, adaptations has emerged from the contributions
Columbia, SC 29208, indicating whether of avocational archaeologists working
you want to continue receiving Legacy alongside professional archaeologists from
and include your email address. All several universities, including the University
contributions are appreciated. Please of Arizona, Texas A & M, Mississippi State
visit our website at: http://www. University, and the University of Tennessee.
artsandsciences.sc.edu/sciaa to download Their work is tackling several provocative
questions relating to the earliest human
past issues, and let the Editor know if
occupation of the Americas.
you wish to receive Legacy by email. As examples, the Topper site has one of the
best-preserved deposits of Clovis artifacts in Dr. Albert C. Goodyear Receives “Breakthrough
Thank You! Nena Powell Rice, Editor, North America, which are yielding important Leadership in Research” Award from Vice President
(803) 576-6573 Office, ([email protected]). insights into patterns of Paleoindian mobility for Research Prakash Nagarkatti at awards banquet.
and stone tool production. Goodyear and (Photo courtesy of Office of Research, USC)
Legacy is the magazine of the SC Institute of
Archaeology and Anthropology, College of Arts and
Sciences, University of South Carolina
Legacy will be published only once in 2014

Charles Cobb, Director / Chair, Department of

Anthropology
Steven D. Smith, Associate Director
Nena Powell Rice, Chief Editor, Layout, Design, and

Director’s Note
Production ([email protected])

Editorial Board By Steven D. Smith

Charles Cobb, Director SCIAA Associate Director
Chester B. DePratter, Research
Adam King, Savannah River Archaeological
Research Program Congratulations to Al Goodyear
Jonathan Leader, State Archaeologist
for receiving the “Breakthrough
Nena Powell Rice, Archaeological
Research Trust Leadership in Research” award
Karen Smith, Applied Research for 2013. This award recognizes
Steven D. Smith, Associate Director
not only Al’s research but also its
James Spirek, State Underwater
Archaeologist impact on the national community.
Al’s outreach at the Topper site is
Archaeological Research Trust an outstanding example of how
Board of Trustees
archaeologists can engage the
Kenneth Huggins, Chair, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Robert Benedict, Vice-Chair, Greenville, SC public in active research. The work
Nena Powell Rice, Secretary, Columbia, SC draws outstanding avocational
George Bell, Past Chair, Greenville, SC
Charles Cobb, Director, Ex-Officio, Columbia, SC
archaeologists like Tom Pertierra,
Steven D. Smith, Associate Director, Ex-Officio, who the Archaeological Society Figure 2: Scott Butler (left), Steve Smith, Eric Poplin, at
Congaree Creek Battlefield. (Photograph by James Legg)
Lexington, SC of South Carolina and State
Jonathan Leader, State Archaeologist, Ex-Officio,
Columbia, SC Archaeologist recognized as Distinguished other year, usually in Europe, and for the
F. Jo Baker, Pawleys Island, SC Archaeologist of the Year for 2013. Al first time since 2004, came to the U.S.,
Bill Bridges, Greenville, SC is looking for volunteers right now for specifically, Columbia, South Carolina.
Hunter Bridges, Greenville, SC
Antony C. Harper, Greenville, SC analysis and lab work on Topper artifacts, Generally a small intimate conference,
Ernest L. “Chip” Helms, III, MD, Society Hill, SC (see Page 4). this year we had 52 presentations and
Dorothy Kendall, MD, Eastover, SC It is May as I now write this note, 15 posters. The conference was held in
Edward Kendall, MD, Eastover, SC
Ira Miller, Columbia, SC and I have to say, I love May. In May, conjunction with a National Park Service
Bob Mimms, Pawleys Island, SC the academic semester ends, SCIAA American Battlefield Protection Program
Patricia Moore-Pastides, Columbia, SC
archaeologists scatter across South workshop and ABPP helped significantly
Heyward Robinson, Mt. Pleasant, SC
William Schmidt, West Columbia, SC Carolina to begin fieldwork, USC baseball with sponsorship. I also thank the ART
is in full swing, and did I mention, the Board for providing a grant. The reviews
Emeritis Board semester ends? This May is special are in, and it was a rousing success, and I
William A. Behan, Bluffton, SC
Russell Burns, Laurens, SC for a couple of reasons. First, I have learned a valuable life lesson…never host
B. Lindsay Crawford, Columbia, SC finally recovered from hosting the a conference. Second, in May, I get to be
Lou Edens, Mt. Pleasant, SC Eighth International Fields of Conflict among the archaeologists escaping the
David G. Hodges, Columbia, SC
William H. Sullivan, Callawassie Island, SC archaeology conference, which was held office for fieldwork. Earlier in the month,
Walter Wilkinson, Pawleys Island, SC in March. This conference meets every Jim Legg and I teamed up with Eric Poplin
and Scott Butler
Administrative Staff to ART Board
of Brockington
Nena Powell Rice (803) 576-6573 or ([email protected])
Associates, Inc., to
University of South Carolina conduct a KOCOA
SC Institute of Archaeology and
Anthropology
analysis of the
1321 Pendleton Street Civil War Congaree
Columbia, SC 29208 Creek Battlefield.
(803) 777-8170 (For Staff Directory)
(803) 576-6573 (Nena Rice) Right now, Jim and
(803) 254-1338, FAX I are at Fort Motte
http://www.artsandsciences.sc.edu/sciaa
Figure 1: USC Camp Ayslum Field School students endure final day wrap- again this year, and
up presentation by Steve Smith. (SCIAA photograph) we have made some

2
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
significant finds, which I will report in
detail in the next Legacy issue. Five Officers’ Escape from a Columbia
This issue of Legacy is a great example
of the breadth and reach of SCIAA
Prison, 1864
By Russell Shaw DePratter
research. Chester DePratter reports on
the successful excavations at the Civil In late 1864, five Union officers escaped Early in the morning of October 11,
War Camp Asylum in Columbia, while from Camp Sorghum, a Confederate Aldrich, Langworthy, and Terwilliger
his son tells the story of five officers who prison located across the Congaree River waited near the guard line, watching
escaped from another prison camp called from downtown Columbia. Sorghum for the perfect opportunity. Starr and
Camp Sorghum. Chester mentions in was established in October 1864, as the Hastings noticed and joined them. When
his article that his excavations included Confederate government struggled to the guard stopped to tend the fire, the
a USC field school. This field school was keep its prisoners of war out of the hands men quickly fled to the other side of a
in the Department of Anthropology with of advancing Union armies. The group of small rise just outside the camp. They
yours truly as instructor. With an active around 1,500 Union officers at Sorghum stayed there through the next day, and
archaeological dig less than a mile away had already been moved three times since then began walking northwest, guided
from campus, it was an opportunity not May 1864, from Libby Prison in Richmond, by Langworthy’s pocket compass. Two
to be missed, and as it turned out, USC Virginia, to Macon and then Savannah, days out from camp, they heard the
students agreed. A total of 20 students Georgia, and from Savannah to Charleston, bloodhounds the guards used to chase
signed-on, and we had to turn away a South Carolina (see Legacy, Vol. 15, No. 1, down escaped prisoners. Langworthy had
number of disappointed late registrants. March 2011). bought a bottle of turpentine from a guard
Frankly, 20 students were too many for the Because Camp Sorghum had been so at Macon, and used it to coat the officers’
kind of one-on-one instruction needed in hastily established—Confederate officials shoes, disguising their scent. The trick
a field school. However, Anthropology in Columbia found out the prisoners were worked, and the officers continued.
Ph.D. graduate student Meagan Conway being sent there only days before their On October 13, the men encountered
and three advanced undergraduates, arrival—the camp had no stockade. The their first southern civilians, a white
Larry Lane, Katherine Carter, and Tara only delineation of its boundaries was a woman and her three daughters. Hastings,
Smith, acted as field director and crew line of stakes driven into the ground and who wore a Confederate jacket, went to
chiefs. Overall, the students got a good a perimeter of guards stationed every few talk to her. While he could not convince
field experience, despite the weather not yards. These conditions created the perfect her that they were Confederate soldiers
cooperating. Class was held on Fridays, opportunity for escape, and almost 400 home on furlough, he found out that she
and it seemed like every Friday it was officers attempted to escape. Most were had two sons in the Confederate army,
snowing, freezing, or sleeting. I think eventually recaptured, but several dozen one of whom had been captured and
we ended up losing most of February, so successfully reached Union lines. Five of treated well in a Union prison. Using this
the students got a healthy dose of indoor these were Captains Chauncey S. Aldrich, information as leverage, he convinced her
“field school.” Daniel A. Langworthy, and Lieutenant not to turn them in.
I want to welcome Nate Fulmer, Josiah E. Terwilliger of the 85th New York Five days later, on the 18th, the
archaeologist and diver, to the SCIAA Infantry; Captain George H. Starr of the officers encountered an enslaved man,
Maritime Research Division. I won’t say 104th New York Infantry; and Lieutenant Charles Thompson, the first of many who
he is replacing Carl Naylor, that’s not George S. Hastings of the 24th New York would help them. Thompson fed them
possible, but Nate will be setting his own Battery.
FIVE OFFICERS, See Page 32
course within the black South Carolina
waters in the “tradition” of Carl Naylor.
As Carl would say, “Howdy!”
Finally, I said earlier, I would never
host another conference, but, Charlie
Cobb did not get my memo, and SCIAA is
hosting the Southeastern Archaeological
Conference November 12-15, 2014, in
Greenville, South Carolina, with Charlie as
General Conference Chair. Karen Smith is
the Program Chair, and Nena Powell Rice
is handling the local arrangements. He
has roped me in for a tour of the Cowpens “Camp Sorghum” drawing by Robert J. Fisher. (Photograph courtesy of the South Carolina
Battlefield. Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum)
3
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
Research Division
Volunteer Opportunities Now Available for Working in
the Topper Lab
By Albert C. Goodyear
For a number of years now, people have on the memo line.
offered to come to the Institute to assist Please send checks
in the analysis of Topper artifacts. We in care of SCIAA-
are now in a position to offer lab work USC, 1321 Pendleton
opportunities for two sessions in 2014. Street, Columbia, SC
The first session will run from May 12-June 29208. At this time,
27, 2014. The second session will last from space is available
September 29-November 21, 2014. The each week for both
lab is located in the Jones Physical Science sessions.
Center across from the Law School on the Lab work will
USC campus. It is hoped that people will start by organizing
commit for at least a week, and they are and classifying all of
Figure 2: Examples of Allendale (MALA) points common at Topper and
welcome to stay longer if they desire. In the various digs on the Big Pine Tree. (SCIAA photograph)
order to operate the lab, there must be a terrace portion of the site.
Each two-meter unit will be analyzed by technology rivaling the use of the Clovis
season from ground surface to preClovis people several thousands years before.
where present. Volunteers will be taught Topper and Big Pine Tree are currently
how to recognize ceramic and lithic the largest known Allendale sites in South
categories and prepare lab sheets for data Carolina. The preceding Middle Archaic
entry into the computer. period is only represented by occasional
Besides cataloging these
collections, a number of research
goals have been formulated with
their respective analyses. First,
is to reconstruct the occupational
history of the site. The upper
30 centimeters contains minor
Mississippian (1100-1400 AD)
artifacts and a substantial Middle
and Late Woodland occupation
(2500 BP-1000 AD). Below that is
a minor Late Archaic (4500-4000
BP) component with occasional
heat-treated stemmed points
(Figure 1) and steatite fragments.
Fiber tempered pottery is
Figure 1: Example of a Late Archaic Stemmed
point with heat treatment. (SICAA photograph) seemingly absent. Prior to the
Late Archaic, is an extraordinarily
lab director present full time. This year, I
dense Allendale (AKA MALA)
am pleased to announce that Joe Wilkinson
(4800-4500 BP) component, which
will be managing the lab for both sessions.
is characterized by hundreds
Funds must be available to keep the lab
of broken and complete heat-
open. A tax-deductible donation of $275
treated bifaces and points (Figure
is requested per person for each session.
2). The Allendale people made
Checks should be made payable to USC
heavy use of the terrestrial chert Figure 3: Taylor side-notched points from the Early Archaic
Education Foundation and write Topper
outcrops for their stone tool component of Topper. (SCIAA photograph)

4
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
 Terrace. Several units in the Pleistocene
Sands are yet to be analyzed and no doubt
contain examples of bend breaks, flake
tools, and possibly bladelets (Figure 6).
Analysis of these Pleistocene age levels
is critical to developing a comprehensive
analysis of the preClovis occupations at
Topper. We are fortunate that Doug Sain
is analyzing the preClovis levels at Topper
for his dissertation at the University of
Tennessee. To date, he has analyzed all
of the excavation levels in the Pleistocene
Terrace and several units in the Pleistocene
Sands.
Another research goal is to analyze
the contact between the Clovis zone and
the top of the Pleistocene Alluvial Sands.
The previous OSL dates showed that the
alluvium was covered by slope wash from
the hillside around 14,000-15,000 years ago.
It is not known by directly OSL dating
Figure 4: An Early Archaic flaked adze excavated from the Hillside at Topper. (SCIAA photograph)
this alluvium how old it is other than in is
Morrow Mountain points. Dating from From the end of Clovis some 12,800 years older than about 15,000 years. If there is a
about 7500-6000 BP, there was an apparent ago up through Dalton (12,000 -11,000 “late” preClovis occupation of Topper like
abandonment of Topper as a quarry BP), there is little evidence Topper was Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Cactus Hill
or habitation site, although numerous occupied. Dalton is well represented at (17,000-14,000 years ago), it might be lying
Morrow Mountains have been recovered Big Pine Tree and over 100 have been at the interface of the colluvial slope wash
from nearby Big Pine Tree and throughout found in the county. Compared to the later and the Pleistocene Alluvial Sands. Small,
Allendale County. Immediately below cultures at Topper, the Clovis occupation well-made bladelets have been observed
the Morrow Mountain zone begins an of the terrace and hillside is massive. in this transitional zone, which could be
extensive Early Archaic side-notched Three of the four
(10,000-9500 BP) occupation, typified Clovis points (Figure
by the well-made Taylor points (Figure 5) have been found
3). The Taylor occupation zone has been on the terrace.
recognized through out the Topper site, Clovis level units
and it will allow for tool kit reconstruction. on the terrace need
Well made uniface scrapers and gravers to be carefully gone
are present suggesting habitation activities through for unifaces
in addition to quarrying chert. Also a and blades and
classic Early Archaic flaked adze has other small tools
been found (Figure 4), as well as dimpled to compare to the
stones or bolas. The function of the bola hillside assemblages.
stones is not known but they may have Earlier (1985,
been net spreaders for catching birds and 1986) excavations
small game. Early Archaic people may at Topper did not
have been manufacturing bolas at Topper go below Clovis.
utilizing the small quartz cobbles available Starting in 1998, the
there. The Early Archaic zone at Topper year of the preClovis
represents the first discernible occupation discovery, units were
after Clovis. Only one Redstone and one excavated into the
Dalton point have been found there from Pleistocene Alluvial
854 square meters of hand excavation, Sands down to the
which is very scant compared to Clovis. top of the Pleistocene Figure 5: Two Clovis points excavated from the terrace area of Topper.
(SCIAA photograph)

5
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
 the job. For those with no lab experience,
procedures are in place to allow
recognition of artifact classes. People with
some patience and who are interested in
puzzles are particularly welcome!
Those interested in participating in
the lab should contact me at SCIAA at
[email protected] or (803) 576-
6579. Maps and suggested motels will be
sent by email. There are numerous motels
within 20 minutes of the campus with
a variety of restaurants. Daily parking
is available on campus for $3.00 per
day in the university’s Horizon Garage,
only two blocks from the lab. Lunches
can be brought to the lab and kept in a
refrigerator. For those that wish to camp, a
Figure 6: Examples of preClovis bendbreak pieces and blades from the Pleistocene Alluvial Sands nice state park is only 12 miles away. The
at the Topper site. (SCIAA photographs) Sesquicentennial State Park has excellent
either Clovis or preClovis. Two unusual In April 2014, heavy-duty wooden camping facilities for tents and RV’s with
points (Figure 7) have been excavated shelves were constructed in SCIAA’s complete amenities. Price is $22.46 per
in the alluvium toward the river, which storage facility to accommodate the night. See www.southcarolinaparks.com.
appear to be more like the Cactus Hill numerous bags and plastic tubs of Topper The address is 9564 Two Notch Road,
points or perhaps the Haw River points; artifacts. This shelving is allowing us to Columbia; phone is (803) 788-2706. Large
the latter being a morphological type organize the artifacts from the numerous groups can be accommodated and there
suspected to be preClovis in age. They do excavations and will help facilitate are permanent grills for large or small
not fit typologically with Clovis or Early systematic analyses. Containers of campfire cooking. For those who want to
Archaic points and preforms. We have artifacts will be brought over to the Jones camp, it would be important to reserve
started a survey of such points referred to Lab and returned upon study or sent to a site in advance. For those who wish
as USL’s, Unidentified Small Lanceolates, permanent curation. to come with friends, early reservation
to try to determine their time-space It is undoubtedly the case that there should allow them to camp adjacent to
distribution. are more artifacts lying in the level bags each other. Anyone who would like to
A third goal is to document the from the Holocene and Pleistocene levels, be added to our program email listing
presence of any bend break pieces in the which were missed during field mapping, to receive updates and announcements
Early Archaic and Clovis zones that lie especially small ones. Thorough lab should contact Joan Plummer at
above the Pleistocene Alluvial Sands. analysis will add to the artifact inventory [email protected].
They have not been particularly noticed of this important
in previous examinations and accordingly site and complete
have not been considered a source of its archaeological
artifacts bioturbated downward into the documentation.
bend break rich Pleistocene sands. This While some
observation needs to be systematically amazing
examined and quantified. Likewise, the discoveries have
incidence of river chert with its smoothed already been made
and stained cortex in the Early Archaic at Topper, there
and Clovis zones needs to be further are no doubt more
documented and compared with the to come via the
evident lack of such chert in the preClovis lab. Volunteers,
levels. This is the strongest evidence many of who
yet for the artifactual integrity of the helped excavate
Pleistocene Sands as an assemblage that these artifacts, are
Figure 7: Two typologically unknown small lanceolate points from the
was not formed by artifacts moving down welcome and even Topper site, possibly preClovis. (SCIAA photograph)
from above. needed to complete

6
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
Tom Pertierra––Distinguished Archaeologist of the Year
By Albert C. Goodyear

The Archaeological Society of South

Carolina (ASSC) in cooperation with
the State Archaeologist recognizes the
outstanding avocational archaeologist of
the year with the award of Distinguished
Archaeologist of the Year. For 2013,
the award was given to Tom Pertierra,
an avocational archaeologist who lives
in Greenville, Florida. Tom began
working as a volunteer at the Topper site
excavations in 2001. Over the 12 years
he was associated with the Allendale
Paleoamerican Expedition, he steadily
made important contributions to the
program as an excavator, hobby diver,
supervisor, donor, provider of equipment,
creator of the list serve and the web site
(www.allendale-expedition.net), providing
financial support for students to travel to
meetings, taught flint knapping to students
and volunteers, and rose to become the
Director of Operations for the annual
dig on the various chert quarry sites on
what was then the Clariant Corporation
property. In 2005, the Expedition
expanded under the name Southeastern
Paleoamerican Survey (SEPAS) with
broader Southeastern U.S research Tom Pertierra at the Topper site. (SCIAA photograph by Al Goodyear)
goals. As a direct support organization,
archaeology projects, as well. As such, he serves as an outstanding example of what
he founded SEPAS, Inc. intended to
has made a major contribution to the study can be accomplished when professionals
support scientific archaeological projects
of early prehistory in the state of South join forces with committed avocationalists.
that utilized members of the public. He
Carolina and neighboring states. He also
helped organize and produce two major
archaeological conferences. One in
Columbia in 2005, called Clovis in the
Southeast (www.Clovisinthesoutheast.
net) and the 2013 international conference
Paleoamerican Odyssey (www.
Paleoamericanodyssey.com) in Santa
Fe, NM. At the banquet of the Santa Fe
conference, he was given a special award
recognizing his contributions to studies
in the peopling of the Americas. His role
in advancing archaeological research at
Topper and Big Pine Tree and other related
quarry sites can hardly be exaggerated. He
worked tirelessly on the land excavations
at these site, and was instrumental in
helping produce several underwater Tom Pertierra at the picnic shelter during the 2012 field season at Topper site training folks in
flintknapping. (Photograph by Bill Covington)

7
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
Excavations at Camp Asylum
By Chester B. DePratter

During these past few months when January. buildings that were constructed by the
temperatures dipped into the teens and With a paid crew that ranged between prisoners themselves with construction
the ground was sometimes frozen or six and nine persons, we were able to materials supplied by Confederate
covered with ice, my field crew and I open approximately 600 square meters authorities. During the worst part of the
were excavating at Camp Asylum on by hand with an additional 460 square winter, tents were distributed as they
the Bull Street property owned by the meters exposed by mechanical stripping. became available. By the end of their two-
month stay, all of the prisoners had some
kind of shelter from the winter cold.
In our excavations, we have found
simple holes in the ground where the
prisoners lived individually or in small
groups (Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5). We
have also found a compacted tent floor
surrounded by a complex network of
drainage ditches. One of the habitation
pits we have excavated was beneath one of
the hospital structures, and another may
have been dug beneath a conical Sibley
tent. Many of these simple dwellings were
covered with rubberized blankets, pieces
Figure 1: “Camp Asylum” drawing by Robert J. Fisher. (Photograph courtesy of the South Carolina of canvas, or roofs of wood, and most
Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum) had stick and mud chimneys in which
the prisoners burned their limited wood
South Carolina Department of Mental A one-day a week USC field school opened
rations to cook and keep warm.
Health (DMH). This property, slated for another 80 square meters. When all is
Our excavations have uncovered very
commercial and residential development said and done, we will have excavated
few Civil War artifacts. An occasional
in the coming years, was the location of a approximately seven percent of the entire
uniform button, a broken comb made of
Civil War prison where between 1,250 and prison compound, which covers about 1.38
Goodyear rubber, a bottle fragment or two,
1,500 Union officers were held prisoner hectares (3.4 acres).
between December 12, 1864, and February Despite the time and funding
14, 1865 (Figure 1). limitations of the Camp Asylum work, we
My work on the Camp Asylum site have learned a lot about living conditions
was made possible through an agreement at the site in the winter of 1864-1865.
between Mr. Bob Hughes, the developer Most of their prisoners had their personal
who is purchasing the property, the City of possessions, including their shoes or
Columbia, DMH, and USC. USC provided boots, confiscated by their captors. Many
the largest share of the funding for my of the Union officers had been prisoners
research, with lesser amounts provided for six months to a year or more before
by Mayor Steve Benjamin and Columbia they arrived at Camp Asylum, so they
City Council, Mr. Hughes, private donors possessed little in the way of material
including ART Board members, and small culture.
foundations. My permit for field research When the prisoners arrived in
allowed access beginning January 6, December 1864, many had no shelter
2014, with all fieldwork to be completed whatsoever, and they were forced to dig
by April 30, 2014. Four months in the holes in the ground to get out of the wind
field with the available funding was and cold. Others prisoners were lucky
only a fraction of what would be needed enough to find refuge beneath the two
to provide for an adequate amount of frame buildings on the site that were used
Figure 2: Pre-excavation outline of pit (Feature
excavation coverage, but for now we know as hospitals. Some fortunate prisoners 14), in which two soldiers resided. (Scale in
centimeters)
much more about the site than we did in were able to move into small barracks
8
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
 Fridays. The two tours each Friday
brought in visitors from South Carolina
and nearby states, as well as others from
as far away as Washington State. Some of
these site visitors brought with them Camp
Asylum-related documents, photographs
of prisoners, and information on objects in
museums or private collections made and
used by prisoners. All those who attended
these tours expressed great interest in our
work and concern about the future of the
site.
At this point, there is no way to know
for sure if more archaeological excavations
will be conducted on the site. All available
funds have been expended, and there
are no additional funds forthcoming. An
access permit for additional work would
have to be negotiated depending on the
development schedule for the tract of land
Figure 3: Feature 14 after excavation with Tamara Wilson demonstrating how prisoner might have on which the prison camp sits. Without
rested. (SCIAA photograph)
more work, much of what can be learned
or a fragment of shoe leather might be the food, writing supplies, clothing, and other from Camp Asylum will be lost to the
only items found in the excavation of a personal items with money sent to them bulldozer during commercial development
large pit where one or more soldiers slept by their families in the North. And there of the property.
(Figure 6). These men simply had very are still countless holes in the ground, tent There will be an exhibit on our work
little to lose during their two-month stay at foundations, and temporary shelters where at Camp Asylum in the Confederate
Camp Asylum! the Union officers lived
Excavations at Camp Asylum were and slept that we have not
made difficult by the complex network discovered.
of utility lines that crisscross the site. There has been a great
DMH could not provide a detailed map deal of press coverage of
of those now-abandoned utility lines, so our work with numerous
we had to excavate carefully in all of our reports appearing in
units, as well as monitor the mechanical local print and broadcast
stripping. A ground penetrating radar media. An Associated
study over a large part of the site by Drs. Press article that took
Victor Thompson and John Turck of the the story nationwide
University of Georgia allowed mapping of generated widespread
some of the larger utility ditches over part national interest and
of the site, but no excavations were carried resulted in many
out in that area due to the presence of deep descendants of former
modern fill and time constraints. Camp Asylum prisoners
There is much work left to be done at contacting me. A front-
Camp Asylum. We so far have not found page story in Civil War
any evidence of the 10 or 12 small barracks News brought still more
structures built by the prisoners, nor have attention to our work
we found any evidence of the privies or and the time and money
“sinks.” We have found remains of only challenges the project
one of the two frame buildings used as faced.
hospitals (Figure 7). We have not yet Historic Columbia
found any evidence of the sutler’s tent Foundation organized
Figure 4: Brandy Joy in linear pit (Feature 4), in which as many as
where prisoners could have purchased tours of the site on four prisoners slept. (SCIAA photograph)

9
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
 Relic Room and Military Museum here
in Columbia once the analysis of the
collection has been completed. Although
we did not find an abundance of artifacts,
our excavations revealed an abundance of
new information on the prison camp and
conditions there in the winter of 1864-1865.
As we often say in archaeology, “It’s not
what we find, but what we find out” that
drives our work. At Camp Asylum, we
have “found out” a lot, and there is still
lots more work to be done.

Figure 5: James Stewart excavating Feature 2, in which three or more prisoners lived. (SCIAA
photograph)
Figure 6: Two combs and a button made from
Goodyear rubber. (SCIAA photo)

Figure 7: Crew exposing area where one of the prison hospitals was located, beneath the present-day LaBorde Building. (SCIAA photo)

10
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
Archaeology in the 21st Century
By Lisa Hudgins

In early April 2014, followers of the ASSC dramatically. Now,

(Archaeological Society of South Carolina) communication to
Facebook page received a notification that and from the field
volunteers were needed to help salvage a is instantaneous.
site in Camden, SC. Bulldozers were ready Images are uploaded
to dig a utility trench through town, and to the Internet and
archaeologists had 24 hours to see what status updates are
they could find before irreversible damage posted throughout
was done. I saw the notification at 3 PM. the day. Data can
By 8 PM the next morning, a small group be shared across a
of archaeologists and volunteers were wider range of users
ready to go. Thanks to quick thinking, through the use
teamwork, and the use of social media, of online servers,
what would have been an archaeological wireless access, and
tragedy became a victory for both the town Bluetooth. While
and the archaeologists involved. communication
This scenario is fairly new to the field between platforms Screenshot from the Archaeological Society of South Carolina (ASSC)
Facebook page.
of archaeology. In the past, fieldwork (iPad, Android,
was done in isolation. You raised funds Windows, etc) is not audience without the cost and time
for the work, hired your crew, and made perfect, it is gaining functionality. required to update a webpage. Daily or
sure the equipment was ready to go. Why all of the fuss? Because social weekly status updates from sites like the
Once you entered the site, there were no media and newer technologies may Archaeological Society of South Carolina
distractions, no crises. It was focused and create cost effective ways of reaching a (ASSC), South Carolina Archaeology
often blessedly quiet work. At the end broader audience. Websites are certainly Public Outreach Division (SCAPOD),
of the season, you published a report and an effective tool for getting information Savannah River Archaeological Research
everyone applauded the effort. out to the public. But a proactive source Program (SRARP) and “I dig the Kolb
With the advent of social media and like Facebook or Twitter enables users Site!” keep them in the public eye and
smart phones, the dynamic has changed to promote information to an interested remind the community of the importance
of archaeology. Interested followers can
stay abreast of new developments in the
field. Archaeology becomes more real,
more dynamic, when people see it day-by-
day, or even minute-by-minute.
The use of social media does not
replace the need for excellent planning and
solid communication. You will still need
well-designed media campaigns and a
good relationship with local and national
news outlets. But for breaking news,
changes in schedule, or a last minute “call
to arms,” social media may be a splendid
addition to your communication arsenal.
Just ask the archaeologists and volunteers
at Camden!

(See Pages 24-25 in this issue of Legacy on a

report of the archaeological salvage excavation
conducted by dedicated archaeology volunteers
in saving Historic Camden from the bulldozer.)
Christopher Judge volunteering at the Camden salvage excavation. (Photograph by Lisa Hudgins)

11
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
The Probate Record of William Wilson, Charleston Merchant
By Lisa Hudgins

The past is loathe to give up its secrets. As about ceramics points to the appraisers’ they presented a detailed list of furniture,
scholars, we wade through hundreds of occupation as merchants in Charleston, including the wood used for each piece.
probate records and wills, hoping for the which can be validated through their Downstairs, we discover a walnut desk,
shop door which is left ajar, or the window, advertisements in The South Carolina Ga- some hickory chairs, two mahogany tables,
which is left partially open to the reveal zette. John Vaux and John Giles had shops and a gun cutlash and cartouch box. Up-
the contents inside. Often, we are looking on Elliott Street, in the merchant district. stairs were three bedsteads, a cypress table,
for the commonplace: the wooden chair Vaux advertised ceramics and Giles was and a backgammon table. The furnishings
in the corner; linens, which were left out a dry goods merchant. Their expertise listed here suggest the lifestyle of an upper
to dry; or the pineapple teapot, which sits would have been critical in the appraisal. middle class merchant, with equipment for
on the corner table. It is the “daily-ness” The items found in Wilson’s shop were an office, entertaining, tea service, etc.
of things, which we seek, and that is most those you might find in any home: fabric Finally, we turn to perhaps the most im-
often overlooked in the attempts to gauge and sewing implements, iron and tin pressive component of the inventory, the
the “worth” of the individual. We are utensils and cookware. Spectacles and shop list of ceramics, enumerated not only
instead given an abridged version of the looking glasses were listed alongside by form, but also by ware type and price.
facts, and a bottom line––the assumed toys, wallpaper, and gunpowder. Ready- Roughly 560 pieces of table and utilitarian
value of an individual’s worldly goods. to-wear clothing for men and women, a wares made up Wilson’s ceramic inven-
In 1764, a door to the life of Charleston recent phenomenon, could be had along tory, which ranged from colorful tea wares
merchant William Wilson was laid open with hosiery, gartering, and a large inven- to stone crocks and red ware milk pans.
as his probate inventory was set forth in tory of handkerchiefs made of silk or These items may appear to be middling
public record. Appraisers (and fellow cotton were also available. In the “shew class, but by the time of Wilson’s death,
merchants) John Vaux, James Fowler, and glass,” a display case or shop window, they could be found in nearly every house-
John Giles began the inventory of Wil- ribbons and silver buttons were displayed. hold in colonial Charleston.
son’s estate in November of that year, and Along with household items were food
documented an extraordinary list of the or- items––pounds of mustard, cases of sugar, Charleston Trade
dinary things, which made up the Charles- and almonds. There were also cases of a By the mid-18th century, Charleston had
ton household. The detailed knowledge concoction called “Stoughton’s Elixir,” a become one of the most affluent cities in
compound of aloe, the American colonies, with roughly seven
cascarilla, rhubarb, times the per capita wealth of Boston,
wormwood, ger- and eight times the income of New York.
mander, gentian, Many residents could well afford the
orange peel, (the broad range of goods imported for resale
occasional bit of in the Charleston shops. Wilson’s inven-
absinthe) and tory was not necessarily at the very top
alcohol, possibly of the Charleston economic scale; it was a
rum or wine; it was modest sum by 18th century Charleston’s
first patented in standards. Wilson’s total goods, listed as
1712, and remained roughly 1,657 Carolina pounds, would be
popular well into the equivalent of $38,000 in 2007 dollars.
the mid-19th cen- At the time of the appraisal, advertise-
tury. It was known ments in The South Carolina Gazette
for its properties indicate that merchants were selling goods
as a tonic and at eight-to-one and nine-to-one, a refer-
stimulant. The liv- ence to the exchange rate between Caro-
ing spaces attached lina pounds and Pounds Sterling. If the
to the shop were economy warranted a dramatic cut in the
also inventoried exchange rate, then the goods in Wilson’s
and the apprais- shop may have been appraised at that
ers again showed same “lower” rate.
their expertise as Yet, based upon the contents of the
Figure 1: Leaf dish, soft paste porcelain. (Photograph by Lisa Hudgins)

12
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
probate record, his shop was certainly the sources for their
appealing to the middle and upper middle merchandise, provid-
class households. Wilson might have tried ing a direct lineage
to locate his shop near other middling from English potter to
class merchants, perhaps on Bedon’s Alley, Carolina household.
Elliott or Tradd Street. Previous research
(Calhoun et al, 1985) points to the “geo- The Ceramics
Market
graphic spread” of Charleston’s merchant
At the time of Wil-
community, and teases scholars with the
liam Wilson’s pro-
possibility of deliberate shopping districts
bate, merchants were
on Bay, Broad, Tradd, and Elliott Streets.
selling every type of
The location of the mercantile district close
ceramic available to
to the wharves on Bay Street in Charleston
the colonial customer,
is no accident. “Rates of Carriage” listed
though trade restric-
in The South Carolina Gazette show a car-
tions and import du-
riage fee of five shillings to Church Street,
ties may have caused
and seven shillings to Meeting Street.
some fluctuation. The
Depending upon the number of carts nec-
ceramics available to
essary to move cargo from the wharf to the
Charleston buyers
shop, long distances away from Bay Street
fell into three main
and the commercial wharves could prove
categories, based upon
to be costly to a busy merchant.
cost and usage pattern.
Indeed, it was the trade connections,
At the top, were tea
which seem to have driven the mercantile
and tablewares made
system of Charleston. The South Carolina
of Chinese porcelain, Figure 2: Coffee pot and lid, black glazed red earthenware. (Photograph
Gazette posted marine diaries––ships
including blue and by Lisa Hudgins)
entering and leaving port. Advertisements
white, enameled, and earthenware, with white stoneware cups
boasted the latest goods arriving from
gilt wares. Extant porcelain dinner ser- sold separately.
the Northeast, London, and the Islands;
vices in Charleston, as well as archival and At the lower end of the economic range,
and customs records form the major ports
archaeological evidence make it clear that were Delft (English or Dutch tin-glazed
document ship’s cargo ranging from rice
porcelain was being imported. While the wares), and the utilitarian types: Notting-
and indigo to porcelain and tea. Mer-
majority of Wilson’s inventory was stone ham and gray stonewares, and milk pans
chants’ records also point to the influence
and earthenware, there is some question or patty pans made of coarse red earthen-
of trade patterns on availability of goods.
about the existence of porcelain in Wilson’s ware. These wares, while not expensive,
From 1760-1766, an account book from
shop. There are references to “blue and made up about one third to one half of the
Hogg and Clayton, lists ships and their
white” cups, and enameled wares, which inventory of William Wilson’s shop, and
cargo being imported, including the names
may or may not point to sale of porcelain. would have been found in every house-
of factors and wholesale markets in Lon-
Wilson’s shop inventory consisted pri- hold. Cooking, dairying activities, and
don for each shipment. When we compare
marily of refined earthenwares and white the regular day-to-day storage of food re-
account records with the names of known
salt-glazed stoneware. Brightly colored quired a sturdy vessel. So, like the Pyrex,
earthenware and porcelain dealers in Lon-
creamwares in the shape of cauliflower, zip-loc, and corning ware of modern times,
don, we can match three of the companies
pineapples, and melons were imported the redware and stoneware of our colonial
to Charleston shipments. Isaac Ackerman
from London and for sale in the shop, predecessors was ubiquitous.
and John Scrivener of Fenchurch Street,
along with tortoiseshell or “clouded”
London, were glass and porcelain dealers Form and Function
wares. While occasionally employed in
whose goods were shipped to Charleston The Charleston table could range from
upper class households, these colors and
in the 1760s. Richard Addison and James the informal to the sublime. At its apex,
shapes were quickly subsumed by the
Abernathy exported delft and refined the formal table could employ dozens of
middling Charleston household. White
earthenwares from their business at Wap- dishes presented in a number of culinary
salt-glazed stoneware was more durable
ping. Addison later joined with John deposits, each more lavish than the last.
and slightly less expensive than porcelain,
Livie, also of Wapping, for sales of white Merchants like William Wilson had to
making it more practical for everyday use.
stoneware, etc. Existing records for the provide wares for both the formal din-
In Wilson’s shop, we find tea sets made of
London exporters may allow us to trace ner party of the plantation owner and the

13
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
 in many social circles, and tea wares be-
came a standard in many Carolina homes.
Staffordshire historian John Thomas sug-
gests that if tea had not become popular
in Europe in the 18th century, ceram-
ics would never have developed at the
exponential rate that occurred in the 18th
century. According to one local tavern
owner, “Tea from pewter was too hot, tea
from wood was not pleasant, and horn
‘tot’ was not suitable.” The clay body in
porcelain and stoneware acted as an insu-
lator against the scalding hot tea, and was
readily accepted as the vessel of choice
for the new beverages. As the popular-
ity and ritual significance of tea drinking
combined with the increasing importation
of Chinese porcelains, European potters
Figure 3: Hand painted teapot, cream-colored earthenware. (Photograph by Lisa Hudgins) were encouraged to meet the challenging
simple family dinner of a craftsman. woman. Knowledge of these subtle rules and lucrative market, which was unfolding
The formal dining table was a mélange of determined one’s status among Charleston before them.
vessel forms. Meals would have included social circles. The concept of the tea set changed
fruits and vegetables, meat (both wild and in the 18th century as focus shifted from
domestic), fish, poultry, turtles, and grain The Tea Table the traditional Chinese to a more Western
products (corn or grits, rice, breads, cere- By the third quarter of the 18th century, assemblage. In the Oriental style, teacups
als, etc.). Fish could be found fresh, dried, the network of taverns was appended by a did not have handles, were usually two to
or salted. Meats, including pork, veal and series of new coffeehouses and teahouses two and a half inches high. The saucers
beef, were often preserved, except during as annual tea consumption in Britain went were deep, and teapots were squat and
the seasonal slaughtering. Vegetables were from 3.8 million pounds in 1767 to 7.1 mil- round. Sugar and milk were not added to
served fresh, boiled, baked, or preserved lion pounds in 1770. The account book of the teacup by the Chinese, so the associ-
as pickles or sauces. Fruit, including Hogg and Clayton, Charleston importers, ated creamer or milk pot and sugar bowl
plums, oranges, and nectrons, was pickled, shows a shipment of 28 chests of tea arriv- were later additions, as use of tea with
but was also available fresh from local ing in a single shipment from London in sugar expanded in Western circles. Forms
orchards. April 1766, amounting to over 700 pounds. introduced by early East Indies traders
The primary table service, usually of Charleston was already embracing tea evolved to meet Western standards of
porcelain, white stoneware, or a refined culture at the time of Wilson’s death, as consumption. By the 1760s, the set might
earthenware, consisted of a soup/serving evidenced by the inclusion of at least 56 consist of a teapot, which was low and
tureen with matching dinner and soup teapots or tea sets in his shop inventory. round, and/or a coffee pot, which was
plates, saucers, pickle dishes, etc. Other The introduction of tea brought a new tall and slender (ht:10-12 inches); six to 12
specialty pieces filled out the table or facet to the societal hierarchy in the colo- cups or teacups with or without handles,
were reserved for specific courses. Table 1 nies. Initially, the use of tea was limited, as six to 12 saucers, a slop bowl, a lidded
shows the variety of forms sold in William it was too expensive for many households; sugar dish, a lidded milk pot, and caddy.
Wilson’s shop. The elegant nature of this tea drinking may have been embraced by The tea service was often manufactured
dining experience was further defined the upper classes as an elitist phenomenon. and purchased as a single set, with the
by the strict rules of etiquette, which The ceremonial aspect of tea was imported lidded milk pot assuming a similar form
were embraced by the colonial elite and from the East and grafted into “civilized” to the coffee or teapot, only smaller (ap-
mimicked by those aspiring to become society. As tea drinking moved from pub- proximately five inches in height). There
part of the Charleston “select.” Good lic venues to the home, elaborate tea ser- were actually several types of cups used
manners and appropriate behavior became vice “rituals” began to define the level of for beverage service. Teacups as defined
so important that recipe books began to respectability attained by a young lady or above, were smaller than the handled
include discourses on table settings, and gentleman. Eventually, however, middle coffee cups. Chocolate cups were similar
guides to good behavior were written for class aspirations and economic fluctuations in style, but could have two handles, and
the aspiring young gentleman or gentle- allowed tea drinking to become de riguer usually matched the chocolate pot.

14
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
In Wilson’s inventory, we find tea sets con- Inventory of Ceramics in the Estate of William Wilson
sisting of the teapot, sugar dish, milk pot,
and slop bowl. The cups and saucers were 34 Delf bowls & 33 Delf plates 1 Coleflower tub & stand,
listed separately, and were primarily made 21 Black and Enamd Tea Potts 1 pineapple ditto
of white salt glaze stoneware. A reference 3 doz Quart Stone Muggs No 1, 1 coleflower Sugar dish and milk pott,
to breakfast china is used to distinguish 2 doz & 7 ditto No 2 1 Tea pott & milk pott
the special use sets from the regular tea 3 doz & 9 pint ditto No 4 1 Tortoiseshell Tea pott 2 sugar boxes,
wares. Breakfast china, also referred to as 8 doz white Stone Cups and Saucers 3 milk potts & 3 slop bowles
a petit dejeuner service (from the French 1-1/2 doz milk potts & 3 enameled Tea potts
term for breakfast) or cabaret were usually 1/2 doz mustard potts 3 sugar dishes & 2 milk potts
smaller sets of tea wares, designed to be 8 Flower horns & 11 Sugar dishes 1 Doz Black Gilt [teapots]
carried to the bedroom or breakfast room. 8 Butter boats & 5 pr Salts 1 Pr large faces & 2 pr smaller ditto
The set included a matching pot, cup and 1 Large Tureen 3 Barbers basons 3 bottles and stands
saucers, milk pot and sugar bowl, and a 1 doz Stone plates & 8 Stone fruit dishes 2 large oval dishes 3 smaller ditto
tray. It is clear that the gentlemen assigned 1 doz pint Stone muggs & 4 round ditto
to probate Wilson’s estate were aware of 3 Chamber pots, 1 doz Stone plates
current trends in fashionable tea services 5 Wash hand basons 6 Large Black Gilt Tea Pots 6 small do
and understood the nuances of fine dining 2 Green fruit dishes & Stands 3 white stone butter boats
in Charleston’s upper classes. They left an 2 ditto tea potts & 2 Milk potts 3 Tortoiseshell ditto 3 ditto Tea potts
exquisite snapshot of the latest trends in 1 Butter tub & stand & 1 Sugar dish 5 fruit 3 ditto Ditto
Charleston ceramics. While we still know dishes 3 do Barl pint mugs & 1 smaller ditto
little about William Wilson’s personal life, 12 doz Stone cups & Saucers 6 Black half pint ditto
the probate of his estate has shed a light 2 Doz Blue & White ditto 1 Blk Bbl Quart mugg
on his business. Through advertisements, 1-1/4 doz Stone Coffee Cups 1 doz Notingham Quart mugs
inventories, and archaeological remains, 2 painted glass flowerpots, 2 doz white Quart ditto
we can confirm that the diversity of goods 16 Common wine Glasses 1 doz Dutch pint ditto
found in his shop mirror that of Charles- 1 doz small green plates, 1 Doz larger, 1 doz Notingham pt do
ton’s economic landscape. The bright 2 large Oval Dishes 4 smaler ditto 1/2 doz white Stone pint Do
colored wares reveal a local passion for the 4 smaller ditto 6 large pickle leaves 1 doz 3 pt Bowles
latest botanical styles. Porcelain sherds are 4 Smaller ditto 4 Small pickle leaves 1/2 Doz Galn Do, 1 Doz qut do
a reminder of Charleston’s great wealth. 1 Doz large Tortoiseshell plates, 1 doz patty pans
Remnants of coarse earthenware pans 1/2 doz smaller ditto
and crockery reflect the need for practical, 1 Doz Blue Dutch plates, 1 doz Breakfast ditto
utilitarian wares. Likewise, the presence
Table 1: Ceramics from William Wilson’s Probate Inventory.
of tea accoutrements confirms the use of
tea or coffee in many of the Charleston
households. The Charlestonian and his
family attended to the necessary social
requirements of a planter or merchant
class household, providing distinguished
Fournier, Robert. Illustrated Dictionary of
guests with afternoon refreshment as the References
Public Records Office. Probate inventory Pottery form. New York: Van Nostrand Rein-
occasion warranted. From the inventory of
of William Wilson, November 15, 1864. hold Company, 1981.
William Wilson, it appears that Charleston
merchants were able and willing to meet Secretary of State, Recorded Instruments,
Inventories of Estates, 1692-1779. Charles- “R. Hogg Account M-343, Volume 1.”
the demands of this socially adept group
ton County. Southern Historical Collection, University
of consumers.
of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill.
Calhoun, Jeanne A., Martha Zierden and
Elizabeth Paysinger. “The Geographic Roth, Rodris “Tea Drinking in Eighteenth
Spread of Charleston’s Mercantile Com- Century America: Its Etiquette and
munity, 1732-1767.” South Carolina Histori- Equipage.” In Material Culture in America,
cal Magazine 86 (July 1985):183-219. edited by Thomas Schlereth. Nashville,
TN, American Association for State and
Local History, c1982.
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Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
Savannah River Archaeology Research
Dating Mound B at the Hollywood Site (9Br1)
By Adam King, Christopher L. Thornock, and Keith Stephenson

The Hollywood site is a Mississippian surfaces containing

period (AD 900-1600) mound town located human remains
on the Savannah River near the present- and associated
day city of Augusta, Georgia (Anderson artifacts (Figure 1).
1994; Thomas 1894) and is one of the The lower surface
few sites in the Savannah River drainage contained a series
to produce objects associated with the of extended burials
Southeastern Ceremonial Complex. The and clusters of SECC
term Southeastern Ceremonial Complex, goods laid out on
or SECC, is used to refer to a set of a prepared surface
Mississippian decorative styles, ritual and arranged near
themes, and artifact forms that were traded a central fire. It was
and carried throughout the Southeast in this burial set that
and Midwest and are found at sites from Reynolds found the
the Central Mississippi Valley to Atlantic elaborate, non-local
Coast (King 2007). materials that have
Henry Reynolds excavated the SECC made Hollywood
objects from Hollywood in 1889, under famous. This surface
the direction of Cyrus Thomas for his was covered with
Smithsonian Institution’s mound builders mound fill and a
project. For that project, Thomas hired second mortuary Figure 2: Pot 10 (Accession 135194) from Hollywood Mound B.
(Photograph courtesy of Adam King)
local archaeologists across the Southeast deposit was placed on
and Midwest to excavate in earthen a second surface. It consisted primarily was constructed and if the two surfaces
platform mounds with the goal of learning of burial urns and extended burials within it were contemporary. In attempt to
that built them (Thomas 1894). arranged around a second large fire. Only resolve this question, King and Stephenson
Reynolds focused his efforts on Mound one person in this upper deposit was (2012), examined the pottery vessels from
B at Hollywood, where he exposed two interred with non-local goods consisting each of the two mortuary deposits and
of fragments of a confirmed that both contained vessels
copper plate. local to the middle Savannah belonging
Reynolds himself to the Hollywood phase (AD 1250-1350)
argued that both as defined by Anderson, Hally and
upper and lower Rudolph (1986). In addition, they obtained
burial deposits radiocarbon dates on soot samples from
were part of a single three pottery vessels and materials
construction effort associated with three SECC objects
(Thomas 1894:319). spanning both mortuary deposits (Table
Subsequent 1). As the discussion below indicates,
interpretations of those dates confirm that both deposits
the mound and its in Hollywood’s Mound B were created
dating (Anderson during the Hollywood phase.
1994; Anderson, In the lower deposit, soot from
Hally and Rudolph Pot 10 (Figure 2), a classic Hollywood
1986; Brain and phase vessel, with check stamping, two
Phillips 1996) have rows of punctates around the rim, and
Figure 1: Upper and Lower Burial Deposits, Mound B Hollywood. left open to question four punctated nodes (the only locally
(Thomas 1894, Fig. 174)
when Mound B produced object excavated from the lower

16
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
 References Cited
Anderson, David G.
1994 The Savannah River Chiefdoms. Uni-
versity of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.

Anderson, David G., David J. Hally, and

James L. Rudolph
1986 The Mississippian Occupation of
the Savannah River Valley. Southeastern
Archaeology 5:32–51.

Brain, Jeffrey P. and Philip Phillips

1996 Shell Gorgets: Styles of the Late Pre-
historic and Protohistoric Southeast. Peabody
Museum Press, Harvard University, Cam-
bridge, MA.

de Baillou, Clemens
1965 A Test Excavation of the Hollywood
Figure 3: Owl Effigy Pipe (Accession 135217) from Hollywood Mound B. (Photograph courtesy of Mound (9RI1), Georgia. Southern Indian
Adam King)
Studies 17:3–11.
deposit), returned a 1 sigma calibrated Reynolds originally observed, there seems
date range of AD 1400 to 1430 (Beta- to be little evidence for the passage of King, Adam
320928), which falls just outside the much time between the placement of the 2007 The Southeastern Ceremonial
Hollywood phase. The 2 sigma calibrated first and second burial sets. Therefore we Complex: From Cult to Complex. In South-
date, however, does overlap with the argue that Mound B was built in a single eastern Ceremonial Complex: Chronology,
Hollywood phase, returning a date range effort over a relatively short period of time. Content, Context, edited by Adam King, pp.
of AD 1320 to 1340 and AD 1390 to 1440. The second inference is that Mound B 1-14. University of Alabama Press, Tusca-
Soot from a ceramic pipe found with Burial was built entirely during the Hollywood loosa.
5, made in the form of an owl (Figure 3), phase. The dates discussed above
returned a 1 sigma calibrated date range (with the exception of Beta-320928)
of AD 1270 to 1290 (Beta-322825). Woven clearly fall within
cane, taken from the copper plates of an the Hollywood
Underwater Panther copper plate (Figure phase date range.
4), returned a 1 sigma calibrated date Furthermore, they
range of AD 1260 to 1280 (Beta-322826). are consistent with
Finally, a small piece of wood from the three radiocarbon
haft of a copper celt (Figure 5) returned a 1 dates obtained on
sigma calibrated date range of AD 1300 to soot from Hollywood
1360 (Beta-322827). phase pottery
In the upper deposit, soot from Pot sherds excavated
6 (Figure 6), a classic Hollywood phase by Clemmons
burial urn with filfot scroll stamping, two DeBaillou (1965) in a
rows of punctates around the rim, and trench on the north
four punctated nodes, returned a 1 sigma side of Mound A at
calibrated date range of AD 1280 to 1300 Hollywood (Table 1).
(Beta-320926). And soot from Pot 8 (Figure
7), another Hollywood phase burial
urn, this time with filfot cross stamping,
returned a 1 sigma calibrated date range of
AD 1320 to 1350 (Beta-320927).
There are two important inferences
to be drawn from these dates. First, as Figure 4: Underwater Panther Copper Plate (Accession 135227) from
Hollywood Mound B. (Photograph courtesy of Adam King)

17
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
 Figure 6: Pot 6 (Accession 135???) from Hollywood Mound B.
(Photograph courtesy of Adam King)

Figure 5: Copper Celt (Accession 135228) from Hollywood Mound B. (Photograph

courtesy of Adam King)

King, Adam, and Keith Stephenson

2012 Archival Research of the Hollywood
Mound Site. Early Georgia 40(1):87-102.

SRARP (Savannah River Archaeological

Research Program)
2012 Annual Review of the of Cultural Re-
source Investigations by the Savannah River
Archaeological Research Program, Fiscal-Year
2012. South Carolina Institute of Archaeol-
ogy and Anthropology, University of South
Carolina, Columbia. Report submitted to
the U.S. Department of Energy-Savannah
River.

Stephenson, Keith
2011 Mississippi Period Occupational and
Political History of the Middle Savannah River Figure 7: Pot 8 (Accession 135???) from Hollywood Mound B. (Photograph courtesy of Adam King)
Valley. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation,
Department of Anthropology, University
of Kentucky, Lexington.

Thomas, Cyrus
1894 Report of the Mound Explorations
of the Bureau of Ethnology. Smithsonian
Institution Press, Washington D. C. 1985
facsimile Ed. Originally Published 1894,
Annual Report 12, Bureau of American
Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution, Wash-
ington, D. C.

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Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
23rd Annual South Carolina Archaeology Month Poster
By Karen Smith and Keith Stephenson

We are delighted this year to help the pottery, there is much about the Ashe events that happen during the month
design and assemble the South Carolina Ferry site that says Woodland Period, and of October 2014. We hope especially to
Archaeology Month Poster around the we are happy to showcase it. Thanks go promote events that are in line with the
theme on the Woodland Period. To this to Chad Long, SCDOT, and Brett Riggs, theme. Stay tuned for more information as
announcement, Al Goodyear remarked UNC-RLA, for contributing the image. the summer progresses!
––without missing a beat––”Nothing says The back matter will feature photography
Woodland like Pottery!” So with Al’s and text vignettes on Woodland Period Reference
comment in mind, we designed a poster sites stretching from the coast to the B. H. Riggs and R. P. S. Davis, Jr.
front that features a great example of a mountains and from the Savannah to the 2014 Archaeology at Ashe Ferry: The
recently reconstructed pottery vessel from Great Pee Dee Rivers. We hope the content Late Woodland Period in the Lower
a South Carolina site. In fact, the glue will be both artistic and educational. Catawba River Valley. Research Report No.
is barely dry on this Cape Fear Fabric You’ll soon get to judge for yourself. 36, Research Laboratories of Archaeology,
Impressed vessel from the Ashe Ferry site, Along with the poster comes the usual The University of North Carolina at
38YK533 (Riggs and Davis 2014)! Beyond long list of great archaeological sites and Chapel Hill.

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Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
Maritime Research Division
Charleston Harbor Stone Fleets Research at the National
Archives
By James D. Spirek

The Internet is a historical researcher’s stone fleets. These two stone fleets were government in the D.C. area. Despite the
dream, especially for those used to intended to obstruct the primary channels set-back, Nathan and I managed to peruse
thumbing through countless books and to prevent Confederate blockade runners a number of archival resources including
scrolling through newspaper microfilm in from entering and exiting Charleston navy vessel logbooks, correspondence
search of scraps of information concerning Harbor during the Civil War. Nathan and between the purchasing agents and the
their topic of interest. A Google search I drove to D.C. in mid-February of 2014 navy, and a trove of paperwork associated
gathers an impressive number of articles, to spend a week at the archives. We had with the sale and outfitting of the vessels
books, documents, and images, some postponed our trip by a week because destined for the stone fleet.
germane, others not so much, and some, weather forecasts from the area suggested Our first research priority centered on
well completely not relevant. Where the wintry mix throughout our planned week. the logbooks of those U.S. navy vessels
internet particularly shines is in locating We did not want to lose any valuable engaged in sinking the First and Second
obscure resources otherwise undetected time at the archives due to snow, and Stone Fleets off Charleston Harbor. While
by researchers due to time, location, or therefore delayed our trip to the following the First Stone Fleet, sunk in late December
financial restraints. 1861, received the
Despite the most attention,
wonders of this particularly by
modern online newspaper reporters
informational age, that accompanied the
a vast number of expedition, we hoped
historical resources to learn more about
remain unavailable the sinking of the
on the Internet. Second Stone Fleet
Accessing these in late January 1862.
non-electronic There is a dearth of
resources require a specifics related to
trip to an archival the Second Stone
repository, and in Fleet as by this time
our case a trip to the European criticism
National Archives of the First Stone
in Washington, Fleet apparently
D.C. to support dampened
our Charleston the Federal
Harbor Stone Fleets Administration’s
project funded by desire to publicize
a National Park Figure 1: Nathan perusing a logbook from one of the navy vessels involved with the two stone fleets the sinking of
Service Historic (SCIAA photo) another obstruction
Preservation grant administered by the week. Unfortunately, like two pedestrians off Charleston Harbor. For those that
South Carolina Department of Archives walking towards one another and not have not reviewed a naval or merchant
and History. sure which way the other is going, end vessel’s logbook, there are basically two
Barely a month into his new job, up bumping into each other, so too did kinds depending on the information
Nathan Fulmer, our new underwater we end up smacking into the snow storm written down by the crew. The first type of
archaeologist in Charleston, got to for the ages, at least so proclaimed by the logbook contains metrological information
“vacation” in DC with me, to look for Weather Channel. Consequently, we lost a of sea states, wind direction, latitude
materials at the archives related to day and two hours of research time at the and longitude, and perhaps a mention or
purchasing, outfitting, and sinking the two archives due to the shutdown of the U.S. two of any unusual activity aboard the

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Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
vessel. Information contained in this type sinking two vessels together of the Second the vessels, including copper sheathing
of logbook may excite a climatologist, Stone Fleet. This proved of interest, as stripped from the hulls, whaling gear,
but not a historical archaeologist, unless during our survey operations last year anchors and chain, and navigation gear.
wind direction or currents figure into the the sonar generated an image of a ballast Of particular interest was that Chapell
research of a particular shipwreck. The mound extremely close to a previously oftentimes sold an expensive anchor or
second type of logbook that addresses documented ballast mound. One hope of chronometer and then turned around
the ship’s activities and surrounding this project is to provide a name to these and bought cheaper replacements for
events form the basis by which to anonymous ballast mounds, and with use on the voyage south. For instance,
construct a historical narrative or to guide references like that, will help in our quest he sold a chronometer for $100 and then
archaeological investigations. These to provide a history to these shipwrecks. bought one for two dollars. Apparently,
were the logbooks that we sought, and These logbook entries are valuable bits he attempted to defray the total costs of
fortunately, the majority of the logbooks of information that will help to develop the vessel to the U.S. Government by these
we examined fell into this latter category. our historical narrative and guide our means. A couple of unique documents
The numerous entries in the logbooks archaeological explorations of the two were also found: an inventory of all the
from the disparate vessels combined stone fleets. supplies aboard one of the vessels, and
to form a good image of the events After mining the logbooks for nuggets the original secret sailing instructions that
surrounding the two stone fleets. The of information, we turned our attention each captain received prior to heading
logbooks noted the chaotic arrival of the to a cache of documents concerning the south. At the end of one of the boxes
first contingent of 25 stone fleet vessels navy’s purchase of these merchant vessels. containing these documents, we found
off Tybee Island and Port Royal Sound We found a number of materials associated a letter by Chapell to Gideon Welles, the
in early December 1861. There several with the purchase of each of the vessels, Secretary of the Navy, summing up in
of the vessels grounded or wrecked on except for the bark Peri. These documents good detail his efforts to assemble and
the shoals and others lacked suitable consisted of bills of sale, ship registries, outfit the two stone fleets. As above with
ground-tackle requiring assistance from and Custom House declarations clearing a the logbooks, these documents, combined
the Union blockading force. Afterwards, vessel for sale. One associated document with all our other research, will assist us to
the navy vessels spent time marshalling in particular proved of extreme interest: a develop the historical context and to guide
these vessels at Port Royal, and then spreadsheet created by Richard H. Chapell, our archaeological inquiry of the two
escorted or towed them for scuttling charged with purchasing and outfitting stone fleets sunk off Charleston Harbor.
at the Main Bar off Charleston. The the vessels for their intended use as part Currently, we are conducting visual
logbooks also referenced the arrival of of the stone fleet. The spreadsheet listed reconnaissance of each of the 29 wrecks
the second contingent, numbering 20, at expenses to purchase stones, make repairs, composing the two stone fleets. Look to
Port Royal during the interval between buy provisions, crew the vessels, and a subsequent issues of Legacy for progress
the two sinking’s, as well as the events plethora of other items. Additionally, reports concerning these efforts.
surrounding the sinking of the Second Chapell sold items no longer required by
Stone Fleet at the entrance to Maffitt’s
Channel. Other specific information
included the scuttling of several vessels
to form breakwaters to facilitate the
landing of Federal troops at Tybee Island,
Georgia, the scavenging of sails, blocks,
and other accoutrements off the hulks
by navy vessels, and the diverting of
several vessels for logistical purposes to
serve as floating store houses or machine
shops. The logbooks of those vessel’s
actively engaged in sinking the stone fleets
recorded their actions of towing the hulks
into position, recovering sails and spars
for later use, or in one instance, having to
go back to one vessel since the sailor’s had
forgotten to open the plug to sink the hulk.
Of particular archaeological importance,
Nathan located a reference to lashing and
Figure 2: Bill of sales, Chapell spreadsheet and other documents associated with purchasing and
outfitting the two stone fleets (SCIAA photo)
21
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
Nate Fulmer Joins the Division
By Ashley M. Deming

The Maritime Research Division (MRD) is

very pleased to welcome Nate Fulmer as a
secondary archaeologist for the Charleston
Office. Nate is a South Carolina native
and a 2012 graduate of the anthropology
program at the College of Charleston.
He has worked on both terrestrial and
underwater sites. Nate has been diving
since 2003 and has extensive black water
experience, making him right at home with
the division. Recently, Nate excavated
a Cold War fallout shelter in his sister’s
backyard in Aiken and produced a short
documentary film about the investigation.
This film was featured at the 2013 Arkhaios
Film Festival and will also feature in an
upcoming International Film Festival
sponsored by The Archaeology Channel
in 2014. The full video may be accessed
on YouTube under “Helter Shelter: A
Backyard Time Capsule in the Shadow of
the Bomb Plant.”
In addition to his work with local
archaeologists, Nate has also been
involved with the Maritime Research
Division for the past few years. He has
taken the Field Training Course Part
II, written newsletter articles, given a
lecture for our October Lecture Series, Nate Fulmer preparing to dive. (SCIAA photograph by Ashley M. Deming)
organized and participated in a College
of Charleston MRD Artifact Identification Nate will be working hard to and identify artifact collections.
Workshop, even been named Hobby streamline the reporting process even We are thrilled to have Nate joining our
Diver of the Quarter. He worked with us more to make licensing and reporting even crew, and we hope that you will welcome
as a volunteer for the 2013 Field Training easier. He will also be available to conduct him to the program. You can reach Nate
Course: Part I, and participated on the underwater and foreshore site assessments at (843) 762-6105 or email him at fulmern@
Hampton Plantation Project with the S.C. mailbox.sc.edu.
Department of Parks, Recreation, and
Tourism and worked on the Black River
Project. Nate has also teamed up with
other volunteers to go explore various
underwater sites in South Carolina.
Nate will be working alongside me
for the MRD Charleston Office. His
main responsibilities will be managing
the hobby diver licenses and databases,
conducting research, managing the
archaeological equipment, and aiding in
the education and outreach initiatives for
the division.
Nate Fulmer preparing to dive. (SCIAA photograph by Ashley M. Deming)

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Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
 23
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
Office of the State Archaeologist
Historic Camden Saved from the Bulldozer
By Jonathan M. Leader
It will undoubtedly come as a surprise to The board and staff of Historic Camden was then apprised of some of the
the reader, as it did to the rest of us, that Camden thought that the pump would discrepancy, but not all of it.
the site of Historic Camden town could be moved and the original pipes, with Maps are funny things. Most people
come under threat. This is an historic a small addition, would be reused. The who have no cartographic background are
site of national significance, the reason City saw this as an opportunity to correct, blissfully unaware of the science and art
for the second historic district in the modernize, and extend the sewage that goes into making sure that the colors
State (after Charleston, SC), and a major and force main pipes in a wholly new used for the map, boundaries, and features
tourist attraction. Yet, in April 2014, that direction. Both groups were very clear are appropriate. In this instance, some
is exactly what happened. The successful in their understanding of the situation, of the lines used to demark construction
effort that saved the site brought together but had inadvertently failed to convey were so close to the color used for showing
professionals from multiple disciplines, their thoughts to the other group. This the foliage that they disappeared from
local citizens, and the focus of several left in play a diametrically opposed set view. They were visible on a computer
national institutions. of viewpoints. As it also turned out, the screen, due to enhanced color support
Historic Camden had suffered for years document signed by Historic Camden from the graphics card, but invisible in
from the placement of a city owned faulty was apparently not complete and missing the physically printed form due to the
sewage pump near its southern boundary. several important appendices. The stage limitations of the printer. The result was
Off days were, well, off. Needless to was set for a perfect storm of no one’s another layer of misperception.
say, visitors and staff could immediately choosing. The original route determined by
determine the problem. Requests to repair The arrival of the pipes into an area the City, and misunderstood by Historic
or move the pump were not acted upon that Historic Camden did not think would Camden, had the pipe trench running
for a variety of good reasons, but clearly be under development heralded their down the front of the property in a
something would eventually have to be acknowledged first inkling that things borehole well underneath the historic
done. Imagine the joy then when the day were not as they seemed. A phone call to layers and surfacing for a short length just
finally arrived, when the problem would the City of Camden was quickly followed before the municipal property near the
be corrected. Unfortunately, the shouts for by the delivery of a computer-generated stadium. It wasn’t optimum, but it was
joy were a little premature. and printed map. The staff at Historic survivable from the Historic Camden view.
However, it would appear that one of the
appendices that the Historic Camden staff
said was not attached at the time of signing
showed an alternative route that crossed
the street to the primary Historic Camden
site and cut a swath across it. It was this
alternative route that had been decided by
the City Council and engineers over the
objections of Historic Camden.
Luckily, Chad Long, a longtime
resident of Camden and the SCDOT
archaeologist saw the initial reports of
the problem in a local paper. The staff
of Historic Camden was in the process
of making calls appealing for help, and
he immediately volunteered. Both Chad
and the staff separately contacted me,
and I stepped in to assist. Chad, as the
local archaeologist, put out an appeal for
Figure 1: Historic Camden Site under threat. (Photograph by Jonathan M. Leader) assistance that was immediately responded

24
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
 So, the disaster was narrowly averted
and Historic Camden continues. It must
be remembered for the future, that no
site, no matter how important, no matter
how well known, is immune from threat.
Great care must be taken to ensure the
preservation of these sites, planning for
disasters, and the “unthinkable” must be
undertaken before they actually occur.
A vote of thanks should be given to
the following people who volunteered at
the drop of a hat to answer the call and
came to save the Historic Camden site: Jeff
Craver, Jim Errante, Meg Gaillard, Tariq
Ghaffir, Ramona Grunden, Lisa Hudgins,
Chris Judge, Bill Jurgelski, Chad Long,
Tracy Miller, Sean Norris, Carl Steen, Sarah
Stephens, Sean Taylor. Although Ken
Lewis was not on site, as the archaeologist
who has done so much of the work at
Figure 2: The trench line at Historic Camden. (Photograph by Jonathan M. Leader) Historic Camden, his contribution through
emails and telephone conversations was
to by the archeological community (see Meantime, Chad and the team had
essential.
Lisa Hudgins’ article in this issue of done a remarkable job of mitigation
Legacy, Page 11). All told, 14 professional archaeology in the path of the heavy
archaeologists became directly involved equipment. And, it must be acknowledged
with another similar number acting in that Mr. Henry Walker, the surveyor for
reserve. While Chad was coordinating the project was very helpful in the careful
the onsite fieldwork, I worked with the removal of overburden so that features
staff and the Historic Camden Board to could be quickly assessed. Historic
see what mitigating information might Camden was extremely well served by
exist to swing the project route away from their action.
the irreplaceable areas under threat. Dr.
Charles Ewen, President of the Society
for Historical Archaeology, was on
standby to provide assistance through the
international society, if need be.
The staff of Historic Camden and I
found a mitigating factor as we reviewed
the Historic Camden and city documents.
The City’s preferred alternative route
would not only have gone through the most
important parts of Historic Camden but
through land that had been owned by the
Camden Cemetery Association and listed by
them as containing burials. South Carolina
burial laws are quite explicit as to what
can and cannot be done, and the time to
be allotted for any necessary work. This
was both complicating and costly for the
construction project, so the City shifted the
route back across the street to where it was
much less damaging. Figure 3: Meg Gaillard and Carl Steen (on the screens), and Sean Taylor excavating at Historic
Camden. (Photograph by Jonathan M. Leader)

25
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
Bat Creek Tablet Research and Exhibit at the Cherokee
Museum, Cherokee, N.C.
By Jonathan M. Leader Robert Mainfort and Mary Kwas that was are also a part of the loan, and no less
Earlier in the year of 2014, the Bat Creek published in 2004. controversial, to suggest and discuss
tablet became available to the Eastern Unsurprisingly, there has been a the merits of tests that are most likely
Band of the Cherokee Nation’s Museum great deal of “push-back” against the to support or refute the core questions
of the Cherokee Indian through a Smithsonian position from individuals (e.g., did the tablet actually come from a
Smithsonian Institution loan. A number who are either looking for the trans- human burial environment) and to assist
of experts, tribal elders and interested oceanic connection to the Americas or in the philology based on his earlier work
people were assembled by the Museum who have a deeply held religious basis for on Near Eastern texts with T. H. Gaster
to assist in the production of the exhibit. I their belief. Being inclusive, the Cherokee and others. A follow up article covering
was fortunate to be invited to assist and Museum made sure that people who the results of the research will be made
take part. The Cherokee have had an espoused these perspectives were also available in the near future.
interest in the tablet ever since its initial invited to take part in the meetings at
excavation from a burial mound by the Cherokee, and several did. Selected References and
Smithsonian Institution in 1889. The loan Many of the arguments that come Additional Readings:
of the tablet, therefore, resonates on several from this group aren’t operational in Feder, Kenneth L.
levels and has reawakened a rather heated terms of scientific endeavor, being 2001 Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries:
controversy. matters of deeply held belief and Science and Pseudo- science in Archaeology.
One could easily be forgiven for untestable. But, there are some that can Mayfield, Mountain View, California.
thinking that since the work was done be operationalized and tested. Probably
under the over-all supervision of the the best representative of this subset has Mainfort, Jr., Robert and Mary L. Kwas
redoubtable Cyrus Thomas of the Bureau been the work of J. Huston McCulloch, a 1991 The Bat Creek Stone: Judeans in
of Ethnology’s Mound Survey, the professor emeritus of economics from Ohio Tennessee? Tennessee Anthropologist 16:1-
fieldwork being accomplished by John W. State University, who was at the meeting. 19.
Emmert, that in terms of the archaeology Unlike many of his colleagues, Huston has
at least there wouldn’t be all that much to published his perspective in mainstream 1993a The Bat Creek Fraud: A Final
discuss. The controversy would then be peer reviewed publications and then dealt Statement. Tennessee Anthropologist 18:87-
the more familiar, but no less important with the ensuing discussions and fall-out. 93.
one of repatriation of a burial or associated Even though his conclusions have not been
burial object. But this would be a mistake. supported, one can admire the integrity 1993b Archaeologists Remain
Practically everything about the tablet and of putting forth a thesis in the proper way, Unconvinced. Biblical Archaeology Review
the excavation has been and still is open to rather than the less meaningful publication 19:18, 76.
discussion and conjecture. in the alternative press.
The ferruginous siltstone tablet The importance of the artifact being 2004 The Bat Creek Stone Revisited: A
itself isn’t all that large or intrinsically either real or fraudulent cannot be Fraud Exposed. American Antiquity, Vol.
interesting except for the fact that it is under estimated. There are real world 69, No. 4: 761-769.
engraved. It is the engraving that is the implications to the Eastern Band, the
focus of the controversy. It has been Smithsonian, and the larger community. McCarter, P. Kyle, Jr.
suggested by various authorities to be Repatriation issues, the primacy of 1993 Let’s be Serious About the Bat Creek
either a form of early Cherokee syllabary, Sequoyah’s syllabary and the integrity of Stone. Biblical Archaeology Review 19:54-55,
paleo-Hebrew/Canaanite, or a fraud. aspects of the BAE’s Mound survey are all 83.
The latter is the official stand of the in play.
Smithsonian based on their own research My part in this has been to provide McCulloch, J. Huston
and bolstered most recently by the work of expertise on the metal artifacts that 1988 The Bat Creek Inscription:
Cherokee or Hebrew? Tennessee
Anthropologist 13:79-123.

1993a Did Judean Refugees Escape to

Tennessee? Biblical Archaeology Review
19:46-53, 82-83.

1993b McCulloch Responds to McCarter.

Biblical Archaeology Review 19:14-16.

1993c The Bat Creek Stone: A Reply

to Mainfort and Kwas. Tennessee
Figure 1: Bat Creek tablet showing controversial engraving. (Photograph courtesy Anthropologist 18:1-26.
of the Smithsonian Institution)
26
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
Peteet Canoe Completed and on Display at Oconee
Heritage Center
By Jonathan M. Leader

In 2002, Peter Peteet discovered an early undertaken by Amer

historic period canoe in the Chattooga and in the conservation
River. The next two years would see of the wood canoe. The
the very careful documentation and latter being the result of
planning that eventually lead to the his having been a trained
canoe’s successful recovery in 2004. To objects conservator and
say that this was a difficult undertaking a Past National Chair
and required the assistance of a large of the Wooden Artifacts
number of volunteers and professionals Group of the American
is something of an understatement. The Institute of Conservation
photo of the 1,000-pound canoe’s move for Historic and Artistic
through the river and eventually to the Works. Figure 2: Early historic canoe completed and on display. (SCIAA
photograph by Jonathan M. Leader)
conservation treatment tank at the Oconee The canoe was
Heritage Center in Walhalla, SC is iconic analyzed for structural preservation individually for their hard work and
(Figure 1). It is also very representative of and a polyethylene glycol treatment, contributions to the project. Everyone who
the level of commitment, civic spirit, and based on the work from the Canadian took part is deserving of praise. That said,
concern for both the cultural and natural Conservation Institute, was tailored to there are several people who need to be
environment that is the hallmark of this its specific needs. Staff and volunteers at specially recognized for their contribution
portion of the upstate. And, now in 2014, the Oconee Heritage Center provided the to the project’s success. Please recognize
the canoe is successfully conserved and on day-to-day monitoring and care under Peter Peteet, Buzz Williams, Dave
display. my supervision. Their dedication to the Martin, Paul Burris, Kent Wiggington,
The Institute involvement was a project ensured its success. Mark Fischer, Leslie White, Jennifer
joint venture of the Maritime Research The treatment cradle for the canoe Moss, Jim Bates, Nick Gambrell, and the
Division (MRD), then under the was designed to become the final exhibit archaeologists of the Eastern Band of the
leadership of Christopher Amer, State support after the treatment was completed Cherokee Nation for their outstanding
Underwater Archaeologist, and myself (Figure 2). In this capacity, it has proven efforts.
as State Archaeologist, Office of the itself to be perfect and a testament to the
State Archaeologist OSA). This tag team local carpenters who produced it. The Partnership Organizations:
approach had been a common occurrence well-crafted pine canoe is now a valued Chattooga Conservancy
for the last 24 years. Chris, as State and important component of the Oconee Cherokee Creek Boys School
Underwater Archaeologist, had the legal Heritage Center. If you wish to visit the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation
responsibility for the artifact, and with canoe or to see the many other exhibits, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies,
his very capable colleagues in MRD, the Center’s address is 123 Browns Square Dr, Columbia University
know how for the recovery My expertise Walhalla, SC 29691 (864) 638-2224. Georgia Department of Natural Resources
lay in the support for the legal initiative It’s not possible to thank everyone Oconee Heritage Center
Office of the State Archaeologist, SCIAA,
USC
Maritime Research Division, SCIAA, USC
Mathematics Department, Clemson
University
South Carolina Department of Archives
and History
U.S. Forest Service, Andrew Pickens
Ranger District
U.S. Forest Service, Sumter National Forest
Watermark, Inc. Archaeological Research
The Board of Trustees of the
Figure 1: 1,000 pound historic canoe being moved up the river by volunteers. (Photograph
courtesy of Butch Clay)

27
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
Archaeological Research Trust (ART) Grants For 2014
Compiled By Nena Powell Rice, Secretary ART Board

Archaeological Research Trust (ART) made characterize the elemental composition archaeological survey by archaeologist
decisions at the November 2013 meeting of materials for sourcing studies. The Dr. James Michie (1991), an equally brief
to fund ten SCIAA researchers for the technique has been used successfully for hobby diver survey for artifacts in Winyah
year 2014. A total of $21,025 was given decades in the Southwest but has been Bay (see SCIAA Sites Files for 38GE111),
to support the following researchers and slow to find acceptance in the Southeast and a historic resources report of the
projects. until recently. This analysis will show Hobcaw Barony Historic District on file
that pottery compositions made from with the National Register of Historic
Sponsorship of “Fields of Conflict” clays within Southeastern coastal plain Places. In short, much more work is
Conference and the Southeastern
Archaeological Conference drainages are sufficiently distinctive from needed.
Steven D. Smith received $2,000 to assist neighboring clays and drainages and begin This year, SCIAA archaeologists,
with support of a very successful “Fields to discriminate local pottery from non- SCETV, and Professor Emeritus Leland
of Conflict Battlefield Conference,” the local pottery. Ferguson, with permission from the
Eight Biennial Conference on Battlefield Belle W. Baruch Foundation, initiated
Understanding Pre-Columbian a collaboration to address the gap in
Archaeology held in Columbia in March Settlement on Waccamaw Neck
2014. This biennial conference focused archaeological research on the property.
Karen Smith received $3,840 to reanalyze
on battle and military archaeology. Efforts are underway to secure funding
Dr. James Michie’s collection from
Traditionally, this event has been held for additional systematic fieldwork in and
Hobcaw Barony. Today, Hobcaw Barony’s
in Europe and has been dominated by around the Hobcaw House complex. All
archaeological resources and the stories
European archaeologists, and it covered paper records associated with Dr. Michie’s
they may be uniquely suited to tell are
an extensive time range from Classical work at Hobcaw will be scanned. Maps
only faintly known. Beyond historical
Antiquity wars up to World War II. will be scanned and georeferenced in
records and oral traditions, the only
Charles Cobb received $2,000 to ArcGIS. The shovel tests Michie excavated
sources of information about the history
assist with support of the Southeastern will be located in real space with ArcGIS
and prehistory of the 17,000 acres on the
Archaeological Conference to be held and artifact inventories will be assigned
southern peninsula of Waccamaw Neck––
in Greenville, S.C. in November 12-15, to them. This will allow them to study
this unique and diverse landscape and
2014. This annual event usually draws artifact distributions using the latest spatial
its past people––are found in one brief
an average of 700 to 800 archaeologists statistical methods. To create the artifact
with their families, that is the largest
regional conference in the country. Paper
topics encompass just about everything
archaeologists do in the Southeast,
from Pre-Clovis speculations at one end
of the time-line to the archaeology of
industrialization in more recent times.
Traditionally, many of the archaeologists
from SCIAA and the Department of
Anthropology (including students) attend
this conference.

Instrumental Neutron Activation

Analysis of Pre-Contact Ceramics
from the G.S. Lewis-West Site,
Aiken County, South Carolina
Keith Stephenson and Karen Smith
received $2,400 to have 75 pottery samples
from G.S. Lewis-West site analyzed
by the Archaeometry Laboratory at
the University of Missouri’s Research
Reactor (MURR) where archaeologists
Hobcaw research team retraces Jim Michie’s steps along a road north of the Hobcaw House at
and other scientists use instrumental Baruch; (left to right): Leland Ferguson, Walter Wilkinson, Betsy Newman, Karen Smith, Bob Mimms,
Charlie Cobb (back to camera), Jo Baker, George Chastain, and Patrick Hayes. (Photo by Eileen
neutron activation analysis (INAA) to Keithly, South Strand News. Printed with permission of The Georgetown Times)
28
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
 projectile points. 2) If protein residues are
preserved, what are the identifiable animal
species indicated by immunological
analysis? 3) What are the diachronic
trends in animal prey species selection
and availability as evidenced through
protein residue analysis of a broad suite
of temporally diagnostic artifacts in the
CSRA?

Radiocarbon Dating of Clovis at

the Topper Site
Albert Goodyear received $2,742 to pay
for three radiocarbon dates from charcoal
samples found in the Clovis deposit on
the Hillside at the Topper site. A recently
dated sample from there came back 10,958
+/- 60 BP, which demonstrates Clovis
age charcoal is present. The association
of this charcoal with definitive Clovis
type artifacts is very good. Funds are
requested for four AMS type radiocarbon
dates ($2,400) to bring the study total to
10. Funds for the other six dates have
been donated and pledged. It is necessary
to conduct floatation and paleobotanical
Kirk point with residue used in the sample study of Christopher Moore’s ART grant research. analysis of sediment samples to derive
(Photograph by Christopher Moore.) a corpus of radiocarbon datable charred
inventories, Applied Research Division is rarer in archaeology than it should botanicals. Funds are requested to pay
staff will physically examine the artifacts be, but also from the educational and for this study by an outside consultant
contained within the collection. They will documentary expertise provided by ($942). The prospects for being the first to
verify identifications by drawing on our our collaborators who are committed radiocarbon date Clovis in the Southeast
own knowledge and on the lifetimes of to helping the larger program take root, are very high and would constitute a major
expertise shared by SCIAA research staff. making timing for the funding of the breakthrough in Paleoindian studies.
During the process, all artifacts will be underwater component a critical detail.
transferred to archive-quality containers
following SCIAA curation standards and Immunological Analysis of Stone
Tools in the Central Savannah
guidelines. River Area: Evaluating Diachronic
Trends in Animal Species Selection
Hobcaw Barony Waterfront and Availability over the Last
Cultural Continuum Project 13,000 Years
James Spirek received $4,293 to tie end Christopher Moore received $3,750 to
with Karen Smith’s work at Hobcaw analyze 50 temporally diagnostic stone
Barony (see above grant description). tool samples for protein residue or
Under direction of Jim Spirek, the immunological analysis from crossover Tariq Ghaffir carefully excavates a Clovis floor
Maritime Research Division (MRD) will eletrophoresis (CIEP) from the Central at the Topper site. (SEPAS photograph by Meg
Gaillard)
implement an underwater archaeological Savannah River Area. The specific
survey of the neighboring coastline to objectives/questions of this research
All of the above projects will result in articles
document the prehistoric and historic program are: 1) To determine if protein
that will be published in future issues of
occupational continuum hidden beneath residues are preserved on a variety of
Legacy. If anyone is interested in seeing
the waters off Hobcaw Barony. Not temporally diagnostic prehistoric stone
the full background description of each these
only will the project benefit from the tools in the Central Savanna River Area
proposals, please contact Nena Powell Rice
simultaneous coordination of underwater (CSRA), including Paleoindian, Archaic,
([email protected]).
and terrestrial work, something that and Woodland/Mississippian Period

29
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
ART / SCIAA Donors Update August 2012-May 2014
The staff of the Institute wishes to thank our donors who have graciously supported the research
and programs listed below.
Archaeological Research Trust (ART) Eric Anderson Joe J. Ashley
Patron ($10,000+) Joe J. Ashley William H. Baab, Jr.
Antony C. Harper Family Foundation Richard B. and Mollie Baker Richard B. and Mollie Baker
Edward and Dorothy Kendall Foundation Benny and Jackie Bartley Lezlie Mills Barker
William R. Bauer Benny and Jackie Bartley
Thomas J. Blumer William R. Bauer
Benefactor ($1,000-$9,999)
Jack A. Boggs William A. Behan
F. Jo Baker
Jonathan Paul Brazzell Paul H. and Judith Davis Benson
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Merle Gwen Brown Jack A. Boggs
Charles Cobb
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Janet Ciegler Jonathan Paul Brazzell
Kenneth and Carol Huggins
John S. Conners Merle Gwen Brown
Ira and Donna Miller
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Robert E. Mimms, Jr.
Jerry Dacus Bobby E. Butler
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Heyward Robinson
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Regular ($49 or less)

Frank and Elizabeth Allan
Diane F. Anderson ART Board Tour of Fort Congaree excavation, March 2013. (Photograph by Nena Powell Rice)
30
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
 Charles Baugh
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Tom Coffer
Colonial Packaging, Inc.
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ART-sponsored tour of the Edgefield Potteries excavation, July 2013. (Photograph by Nena
Powell Rice) Harry Everett and Margaret Grubbs Shealy
John and Alison Simpson
Morris and Claire Kline Steven R. and Jodi Cable Antony C. Harper
Mary Ann R. Kolb Daniel Chaplin Camp No. 3 Karin and Myron Yanoff
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of Nena Powell Rice)
31
Legacy, Vol. 18, June 2014
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FIVE OFFICERS, From Page 3

cornbread, sorghum, and bacon, and gave both of whom had escaped from the after getting paid, was to have their picture
them directions to the Greenville and train between Charleston and Columbia. taken (See page 2).
Columbia Railroad, which would lead On November 5, Hamilton led all seven After the war, Starr and a few of the
them toward the mountains. After passing officers to meet with a third group that others sent Sheriff Hamilton a box of gifts
through Greenwood and Belton, South included 19 deserters and refugees and in thanks for his service. As did many of
Carolina, they found the Greenville and three more escaped officers, Captain their fellow ex-prisoners, several of the
North Carolina Turnpike and followed it William F. Dawson, Lieutenants Isaiah officers wrote memoirs or spoke publicly
north. Conley, and William Davidson of the 101st about their experiences in the war. In
Near Marietta, South Carolina, a Pennsylvania Infantry. 1892, Starr delivered an address to the
freedwoman named Betsey Turner baked Although there was some safety in Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the
bread for the men while her husband John numbers and their guides undoubtedly United States that covered everything
gave them detailed directions to the state knew what they were doing, the group from his enlistment in 1861 to his arrival at
line. They passed through Jones Gap was far from safe. While waiting near the Knoxville in November 1864. Langworthy
into North Carolina on October 26, and Mills River for more refugees, Confederate published Reminiscences of a Prisoner of
followed Turner’s directions to the home soldiers attacked. Only a few of the War and His Escape at the request of his
of William Case near Cedar Mountain. Unionists were armed, but they formed a friends and family. At least a few of the
Case, a white Unionist, told the group that firing line and allowed the rest to escape. group stayed in touch into the early 20th
they would have no hope of reaching the Hamilton decided that it would be too century, and Langworthy noted at the
Union lines without a guide, but that there dangerous to wait any longer, and he led end of his memoir that as of April 3, 1915,
was a group of Unionists and Confederate them over Mt. Pisgah to Spring Creek Gap he and Starr were the only two members
deserters who were planning to make the near Hot Springs. On November 9, they still living. Starr died in 1916, leaving
trip in early November. He then sent them crossed the border into Tennessee. Langworthy the final surviving member of
eight miles up the road to a man named Ed At the next place they stopped, several the group, until his death in 1919.
Merrill. men were digging a grave for a Unionist
At Merrill’s, the officers found a state who had been shot by a Confederate
of affairs uncommon even in the contested sympathizer the previous day. On the
Appalachian region. Although a slave, 10th, they were stopped by a Unionist
Merrill had been given control of his named Milt Spurgeon, who had gathered
master’s business and family affairs while a group of his neighbors and fortified a
he was away fighting in the Confederate bluff as a defense against Confederate
army. Merrill fed the officers and then led attack. He was suspicious of the group’s
them to the house of Robert Hamilton, the identity, and claimed to have enough men
sheriff of Transylvania County. to “blow them to hell in a minute,” two
Hamilton, because of his occupation, of the officers recalled. On the 11th, they
was exempt from the Confederate draft. passed through Sevierville. Half of the
He put on a show of tracking down group continued the last few miles to the
deserters by day, while hiding several Union line at Strawberry Plains, while
different groups of escaped officers from the rest spent the night with a generous
Columbia. On November 1, Aldrich, widow. On the 12th, they too crossed the
Hastings, Langworthy, Starr, and picket line. At Strawberry Plains, they
Terwilliger were reunited with Captain borrowed horses from the 10th Michigan
Lester Cady of the 24th New York Battery Cavalry and rode to Union headquarters in The five officers who escaped from Camp
Sorghum. (In Langworthy, Reminiscences of a
and an unidentified Lieutenant Masters, Knoxville. One of the first things they did, Prisoner of War and His Escape, 1915)