Archaeological Data Recovery at Long Point Plantation (38CH321) Mark Clark Expressway (I-526), Charleston County, South Carolina

Summary

This report documents limited data recovery activities undertaken at Long Point Plantation (38CH32l), in Charleston County, South Carolina by Brockington and Associates, Inc., for the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation. The site contains the remains of an eighteenth and nineteenth century plantation that evolved through several phases of operation related to contemporary economic conditions. The site was originally defined during the initial cultural resources survey of the proposed Mark Clark Expressway (I-526); subsequent testing demonstrated the presence of intact cultural deposits and resulted in the listing of the site on the National Register of Historic Places. The present investigations were designed to recover a portion of the intact deposits that were present at the site, and to assess damage to the site through twentieth century agricultural activities and construction activities associated with the building of the Mark Clark Expressway (I-526). Initially, the site was disked and surface collected in 5 foot by 5 foot units. Also, small (1.5 foot x 1.5 foot) exploratory units were excavated at 10 or 20 foot intervals over the plowed area. The distributions of the remains recovered from the surface collection and the exploratory excavations then were plotted to determine where intact deposits were likely to be present. Three areas were selected for examination through the controlled excavation of larger 5 foot by 5 foot units.

Excavations in Area A, located in the north central portion of the site, encountered numerous postholes/postmolds and a portion of a wall trench. In addition, a thin lens of unplowed buried A horizon or historic midden was present throughout Area A. Remains recovered from the midden/A horizon suggested an eighteenth century occupation possibly associated with a former kitchen area. Evidence of damage that resulted from spoil deposition on the site also was encountered in Area A.

Excavations in Area B, located in the central portion of the site, encountered the remains of brick piers and a chimney base, as well as numerous postholes/postmolds. The recovered remains and the configuration of the brick features and soil stains suggest that this area probably represents the former main house of Long Point Plantation, with a nineteenth century occupation most in evidence. Evidence of damage that resulted from bridge construction activities also was encountered in Area B.

Excavations in Area C, located in the east central portion of the site, revealed that spoil deposition during bridge construction activities resulted in the complete mixing of the former plow zone at site and the spoil materials that were placed on the site. No intact cultural deposits were encountered in Area C.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Brockington and Associates, Inc.

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Michael C. Scardaville

Principal Investigator(s): Eric C. Poplin

Sponsor(s): Federal Highway Administration

Submitted To(s): South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Trans

Record Identifiers

Brockington and Associates, Inc., report number(s): 0132

Notes

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

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