Preliminary Results of Archaeological Data Collected at Peachtree Plantation, St. James Parish, South Carolina

Summary

Peachtree Plantation, located on the Santee River in St. James Parish, South Carolina, is one of the earlier examples of plantation architecture in the South Carolina Low Country. Built in 1762, it was home to Thomas Lynch, Jr., a wealthy rice planter and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Peachtree is also significant as the first plantation to utilize a water-powered rice mill, which revolutionized rice production in the Low Country. A kitchen fire in 1840 destroyed much of the original structure and the remains have stood in ruins for over 150 years. This paper presents preliminary results of data collected from four, 3 ft. by 10 ft. units placed within the interior floor plan of the structure. Data collection and analysis was conducted to gain a better understanding of the original floor plan and room uses. Secondary data collection included foundation analysis and clearing of porticos to understand how they were constructed.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Rags to Riches: the Creation and Legacy of the Carolina Colony   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-63,08