Public archaeology at Baynard-Zion: bringing life back to an antebellum cemetery (original) (raw)
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Doing Archaeology Publicly: The Bayshore Homes Project, Florida.
2011
The Bayshore Homes site is a precolumbian mound and midden complex located in the Parque Narváez neighborhood of Pinellas County, Florida. Over the past decade, archaeological excavation and research have been conducted in a very public environment: the front and back yards of the subdivision’s residents. Involving the residents as partners in the process of discovery about the neighborhood’s ancient past has been an essential component of the project since its inception. This paper discusses the results of such involvement, from the use of volunteers to educating residents about the importance of preserving the neighborhood’s Native American heritage.
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American antiquity, 2024
In 2013, 36 Ancestors of African descent were identified in an unmarked eighteenth-century burial ground during construction in Charleston, South Carolina. The site, later referred to as the Anson Street African Burial Ground, was buried beneath the growing city and forgotten in the centuries that followed. The ethical treatment of these ancestral remains was of paramount importance to our community. Historically, narratives relating to the lives of African descendant people in Charleston have been inadequately documented and shared. For these reasons, we engaged the local African American community in a multifaceted memorialization process. Together, we sought to sensitively ensure that the Ancestors' identities and lives were fully explored according to the collective descendant community's wishes. To this end, we involved the community in researching and celebrating the Ancestors' lives through arts and education programs and analyzed their and community members' DNA to elucidate their ancestry. Our engagement initiatives increased access for all ages to archaeological, historical, and genetic research and encouraged active participation in the design of a permanent memorial. The Anson Street African Burial Ground Project provides a successful example of community-engaged activist archaeology focused on honoring the Ancestors and their descendants. Resumen En 2013, 36 antepasados africanos fueron identificados en un cementerio sin marcar del siglo XVIII durante una construcción en Charleston, Carolina del Sur (EE. UU.). El sitio, más tarde llamado el cementerio africano de Anson Street, fue enterrado debajo de la ciudad que creció y olvidado en los siglos siguientes. El tratamiento ético de los restos ancestrales fue de suma importancia para nuestra comunidad. Históricamente, las narraciones relacionadas con la vida de los afrodescendientes en Charleston no se han documentado ni compartido adecuadamente. Por estas razones, involucramos a la comunidad afroamericana local en un proceso de investigación y conmemoración. Juntos, buscamos garantizar con sensibilidad que las identidades y las vidas de los Ancestros se exploraran por completo, siguiendo los deseos de la comunidad descendiente colectiva. Con este fin, involucramos a la comunidad en la investigación y celebración de la vida de los antepasados a través de programas de arte y educación y analizamos su ADN y el de los miembros de la comunidad para dilucidar su ascendencia. Nuestras iniciativas de participación aumentaron el acceso de todas las edades a la investigación arqueológica, histórica y genética, y alentaron la participación activa en el diseño de un monumento permanente. El Proyecto del Cementerio Africano de la Calle Anson proporciona un ejemplo exitoso de arqueología activista comprometida con la comunidad enfocada en honrar a los Ancestros y sus descendientes.
Chicora Foundation Research Series, 1992
This study presents the results of archaeological data recovery at a prehistoric shell midden site on Hilton Head Island (38BU833) by Chicora Foundation in January 1992. Excavation of 900 square feet revealed the presence of intact shell midden deposits, features, and an artifact assemblage incorporating the Deptford, St. Catherines, and Savannah phases. Also present is an eighteenth century low status occupation perhaps reflecting some of the earliest settlement on Hilton Head Island. The Early Woodland Deptford component was found situated approximately 250 to 300 feet inland from Skull Creek. Although thoroughly disturbed by agricultural activities, the midden appears generally similar to that of the later St. CatherinesjSavannah phase. The Late Woodland St. Cather ines and Savannah occupation was found adj acent to the marsh, overlooking Skull Creek. Excavations reveal a focal subsistence base, oriented almost exclusively to the collection of oysters. Other shellfish were rare, as were vertebrate fauna and ethnobotanical remains. Ceramics, while present, were not abundant. Other cultural remains were limited to a very small lithic assemblage. The co-occurrence of St. Catherines and Savannah ceramics at 38BU833 supports previous investigations in the region which have found the Late Woodland phases blending into one another, with no clear distinctions. The historic remains identified at the site appears to represent an isolated structure, probably constructed of wattle and mortar daub. The artifacts are suggestive of a moderately low status household occupied about 1750. iii Given the long hours and poor weather, we sincerely wish to thank those who worked with us on this project-Ms. Mona Grunden and Ms. Liz Pinckney. Obviously, without careful and conscientious excavation, there is nothing worthy of analysis. We would also like to thank Mr. Richard Ellis, Chicora Foundation supporter and volunteer, who not only spend several days with us, but also made us feel welcome in his home. And finally, we want to thank the numerous individuals who stopped by the site and expressed an interest in the archaeology and history of Hilton Head Island. This concern with the past is, ultimately, the reason that Chicora Foundation and The Melrose Company entered into this partnership. We hope that our efforts have made the past come alive, not only for those who visited us, but also for those who will read this study.