Locking the Tar: Archaeological and Historical Analysis of a Derelict Antebellum River Lock in Greenville, North Carolina

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Landscapes Above and Below in Southern Contexts (General Sessions)" , at the 2021 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

In 1849, the North Carolina legislature appropriated $25,000 to build a series of locks and dams along the Tar River to improve navigation through the shoals of the shallow inland waterway. These developments were intended to increase the transport of cotton, naval stores, and timber to the coast by making the depth of the river consistent year-round. A timber-crib lock was built in the town of Greenville, however, the corresponding dam nor any other components of the system were ever constructed due to a lack of additional funding. East Carolina University’s (ECU) Program in Maritime Studies recently documented the now submerged lock structure to examine the remaining features along the riverbank. This paper will outline the lock’s development, construction, and abandonment in relation to the movement towards widespread internal improvements in North Carolina during the Antebellum period and discuss the archaeological significance of the remaining lock features.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Landscapes Above and Below in Southern Contexts (General Sessions)   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2021

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology