Archaeological Data Recovery at Colleton River Plantation (38BU647) Beaufort County, South Carolina: A Study of an Early Nineteenth Century Slave Settlement

Data recovery investigations were conducted by Brockington and Associates, Inc., at 38BU647, Beaufort County, South Carolina. The investigations proceeded in two phases; Phase A was conducted during February 1993, and Phase C was conducted during April 1993. The work was conducted in compliance with state regulations regarding impact to cultural resources as a result of development activities along the coast of Beaufort County. Proposed construction activities at the Colleton River Development tract will include the building of roads and residential units.
Site 38BU647 is a slave row containing the remains of fourteen extant tabby chimney bases. Archaeological investigations concluded that there were an additional six tabby chimneys, which have since been destroyed by plow action. The original twenty slave cabins were aligned on either side of a street on what was known as the Devils' Elbow Barony, and subsequently known as the Camp Plantation.
The archival and archaeological investigations concluded that the site was occupied from approximately 1815 to 1845, and was established by Samuel Colleton Graves. A total of 118 slaves, of African descent, may have resided at 38BU647.