Data Recovery Investigations of Four Wilmington Phase Sites (38BU132, 38BU372, 38BU1236, and 38BU1241), Beaufort County, South Carolina: A Study in Middle Woodland Subsistence Strategies

Summary

Data recovery investigations were carried out by Brockington and Associates, Inc., at four Wilmington phase shell midden sites located in the Colleton River Plantation tract, Beaufort County, South Carolina.

The field work was initiated during October 1990 and was completed April 1991. The field investigations consisted of the excavation of 1 by 1 m units, excavated in arbitrary 10 cm levels. Samples were retained for flotation analysis. Zooarchaeological, ethnobotanical, radiocarbon, and oyster analyses were conducted for the four study sites. The data from the four sites, in addition to the data available from previous investigations of Wilmington phase sites in the region, resulted in an alternative model of site function for at least some, if not all, of the Wilmington shell midden sites.

Rather than representing semi-permanent seasonal camps, it is suggested that these sites may be the result of intensive oyster collection and preservation (i.e., smoke drying or sun drying) efforts. If so, these sites would not be occupied for a long duration of time but abandoned, and dried oysters carried away from the site for later consumption.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Brockington and Associates, Inc.

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)

Field Director(s): Linda Kennedy

Principal Investigator(s): Christopher T. Espenshade

Landowner(s): Colleton River Company, L.P. (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina)

Sponsor(s): Colleton River Company, L.P. (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina)

Record Identifiers

Brockington and Associates, Inc., report number(s): 0152

Notes

General Note: Curation facility: South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology

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