Archaeological Survey of a Portion of the Pruitt Tract, Seaside Plantation, James Island, Charleston County, South Carolina
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF A PORTION OF THE PRUITT TRACT, SEASIDE PLANTATION, JAMES ISLAND, CHARLESTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA . ! ' . .... L_ . .~ ' ·. :<"• .- ...: :~r.ze:e :!•tit.I PS 0-P('},,j ..,- -: ... ~ - .. ' ' ' ·_'ff_,, "',lt.;:i...--., ''.•{ ~ : l ... , : ~ - ' • - • .... ' . "ll·' ,,_..,_ ..~~,•"!" ~~'!}>.... ~-~ CHICORA RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION 284 © 2001 by Chicora Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored In a retrieval system, transmitted, or transcribed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or olherWise without prtor permission of Chicora Foundation, Inc. except for bi1ef quotations used In reviews. Full credit must be given to the authors, publisher, ancl project sponsor. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF A PORTION OF THE PRUITT TRACT, SEASIDE PLANTATION, JAMES ISLAND, CHARLESTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA Prepared By: Michael Trinkley, Ph.D., RPA Prepared For: Mr. Herb Butler Special Properties 216 Calhoun Street Chadeston, South Carolina 29401 CHICORA RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION 284 Chicora Foundation, Inc. PO Box8664 Columbia, SC 29202-8664 803/787-6910 EmaJ: [email protected] www.chicora.org January 5, 2000 Tb report: is printed on permanent paper <Xl ABSTRACT This study reports on an intensive Although much of the property is relatively archaeological survey of a 13.9 acre tract of property in low, exhibiting only moderately well drained soils, we the southeastern corner of Seaside Plantation on James chose lo conduct shovel testing al 100-foot intervals Island, Charleston County, South Carolina. The since the tract was within a previously identilied properly, currently owned by Dr. Berl Pruitt, ill being archaeological site and v.ras in relatively close proximity subdivided for development similar to the remainder of lo a known historic site. All fill was screened through Seaside Plantation. In compliance with a conservation %-inch meeh and the shovel teets were backfilled al the easement held by the Historic Charleston Foundation, completion of the study. an archaeological survey was requested by the real estate agent handling the transaction, Mr. Herb Butler of With the exception of a single isolated find Special Properties. The properly is intended to be (producing a single sherd and flake in one shovel lest), divided into three lots, ranging in size from 3.13 to only modern (post-1 Q70) refuse was identified. Om 6.61 acres. investigation did, however identify two ditch and dike systems which were subsequently confu.med to be old The tract consillts of generally level land field lines. Also identified were the remains of the bounded by a marsh inlet to the south, Seaside historic access road to the Pruitt residence which Plantation Blvd. to the wast and northwest, existing traversed the marsh. develcpment to the nonh and northeast, and the remainder of Dr. Bert Pruitt's properly to the east. The Our study also revealed that collectors using current vegetation consists of a relatively second growth metal detectors had visited the site, probably searching fmest consillting of pine and a few hardwood. with a for materials associated with nearby Confederate earth dense underatory of herbaceous vegetation which had works. h a result, we conducted a brief metal detector been bush hogged prior to this inveetigation. h a result survey, focusing on three areas selected as having the access w-aa generally easy throughout the tract, except eaaiest access :for metal detector use. All tkee produced for an area of freshwater wetlands on its western side. only modern (post-1970) materials. Additional comparison of the site area with available Civil War Consultation with the S.C. Depaclment of maps has failed lo identify any known eanhworks or Archives and History revealed no National Register other activity in this area. propertiei in the immediate area, although Dr. Pruitt's hoUBe, about 500 feet to the northeast, had been Although this tract is situated withln the recorded by HIB!oric Preservation Consultants as pan of boundaries of a previously recorded archaeological site, a county-wide architectural survey. The S.C. Institute this site was very generally defined at a time when the of Archaeology and Anthropology reveals numerous entire area was under cultivation. We have found no archaeological sites in the general are• of this tract, with evidence of signilicant archaeological or historical the entire parcel falling within site 38CH507. remains on the study tract. ConBequently, we Additional historic research was conducted by Chiccra recommend no additional investigations or management Foundation al the Charleston County Regillter of acrl:ivities. Mense Conveyances, which traced the property back lo the first quarter of the nineteenth century when it was It is possible that archaeological remains may pan of a 100 acre plantation held by S.H. Price. be encountered in the corridor during construction. Construction crews should be advised to report any di£coveries of concentrations of amfacts (such as bottles, ceramics, or projeatile points) or brick rubble to the project engineer, who should in turn report the material to the Charleston Historic Foundation or to Chicora Foundation. No construction should take place in the vicinity of these late discoveries until they have been examined hy an archaeologist. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures iv Aclmowledgments v Introduction 1 Project Background 1 Natural Environment 1 Pre/1istoric and Histon'c Synopsis 7 Previous Investigations 21 Methods 23 Background Investigations 23 Field Met1wds 23 Site Evaluation 26 Laboratcry Analysis 28 Results 29 Background Investigations 29 Results of tluz Arc/1aeo/ogical Surooy 29 11,e Metal Detoctar Survey 30 Tf:e Pedestrian Survey 30 11,, Arcliifodural Survey 32 Summary and Recommendations 35 Sources Cited 37 iii UST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Project vicinity in Charleston County 2. Project area 3 3. Aerial photograph showing the study area 7 4. View of the vegetation on the StlIVey tracl 7 5. Cultural period. along the coast of South Carolina 9 6. "Sketch of the Environs of Charlestown" about 1777 13 7. Porlion of Mills' Atlas showing the projeot area 14 8. Bache's "Charleston Harbour and the Adjacent Coast and Country" froml823-1825 14 9. Works on Jam es Island for the defense of Charleston lb 10. Civil War earthworks on James Island 17 11. Porlion of the 1919 James Islandtopographlc map 19 12. Porlion of the "Map of Seaside Plantation" 20 13. Map of the survey lraol 24 14. Example of metal detector lootinii hale 25 15. Example of metal detectcor looting hole 26 16. Deptford Card Marked sherd 29 17. Remnants of the marsh causeway 30 18. Railroad rail found in the matsh at the cauaeway 31 19. Bank and ditch fealurs in the ea.stem portion of the survey tract 31 20. Sandiford Bee House 32 21. Support building and garage 33 iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want lo thank Mr. Tom Covington and Ms. I ako want to thank Mr. Jonathan Poston with Autumn Perbn. of our staff who were responsible for The Historic ChaJeston Foundation who shared assemblin;i the hackground information for this project. information concerning the property with us and helped Mr. Covington ako assisted with the field coordinate the survey. I ako appreciate Ms. Sarah Fick investigations. I appreciate their dedication and providing information on the Pruitt house from her thoroui1hness. files. In addition, I appreciate the asaistance and Finally, I want to thank Special Propernes for cooperation of the staff of the S. C. Institute of their concern regarding the cultural resources of South Archaeology and Anthropology, particukJy Mr. Keith Carolina, ae well as their continuin;i support of Chicora Derting and M.. Sharon Pekul. Both went out of their Foundation. way to make our job easier and the final product more complete and useful. v INTRODUCTION Civil War earthworks corurtrucled ae part of the defense of Charleston; and an architectural evaluation of the This work wae conducled for Mr. Herb Butler, nearby Pruitt house. The only portion of the tracl not Special PropertieB, by Dr. Michael T rink!ey, with invesliBated was a email (0.5 acre) island situated off the aesistanoe from Mr. Tom Covington, of Chicora tnain parcel in marsh. Thia island was excluded since it Foundation. The project involves the historical and is so small and low that it is unlikely any development archaeological survey of a 13.9 acre tracl of properly could take place. owned by Dr. Bert Pruitt situated on the southeastern edge of the Seaside Plantation development on James The field investigation was conducled by Dr. Island in Charle.ton County, South Carolina (Figures Michael T rink!ey and Mr. Tom Covington on 1and2). December 15, 1999. A total of 15 person hours were spent on-oite conducling \be survey. An additional 6- The survey tracl is bordered to the south by person hours were devoted to the examination of in marshes of Seaside Creek, to the west by Seaside house resources dealing witb the Civil War hletory of Plantation Boulevard, lo the northwest by Eagle Watch the properly, coupled wi\h a title search focusing on Road, to the north by Seaside Plantation properly, and ownere and plats for the tracl at tbe Charleston County to the east by the remainder of the tracl owned by Dr. Register of Mesne Conveyances. A total of 4-person Pruitt. The tracl is dominated by the development to hours were devoted to research on the existing Pruitt the west and northwest, as well ae the marehes and open house and completing a S.C. Department of Archives water found to the eaet. Thia partianlar area of James and History Statewide Survey Site Form. Tbe Island has seen exceptional growth and development laboratory analysis of the col!eclions resulting from this over the past 40 years, with what was originally almost investigation were conducted at Chicora' s Columbia entirely anltivated fields being transformed into a series laboratories on December 22.