Archaeological Data Recovery at River Club (38BU880), Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina: A Study in Late Eighteenth/Early Nineteenth Century African American Lifeways

Archaeological data recovery investigations were carried out by Brockington and
Associates, Inc., at both the historic and prehistoric components of 38BU880, during July and August 1992. This work was conducted in compliance with Federal, State, and the Town of Hilton Head legislation regarding the impact to cultural resources as a result of development in the coastal zone of South Carolina. 38BU880 is located in the River Club development tract, adjacent to Broad Creek, on Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina. The proposed development of the River Club tract would have resulted in impact to site 38BU880. Mitigation of the potential adverse effects of this impact on
38BU8,80 was achieved through data recovery.
The investigations conducted in the prehistoric component of the site suggested that the potential trench feature exposed during testing was related to tree removal activities during the historic period. The investigations in the historic component exposed two tabby chimney bases, a variety of post holes/molds, and the remnant of a dirt floor. Two slave cabins are believed to be represented by the archaeological remains. Artifact analyses indicate that the structures were occupied between 1780 and 1820, when John Stoney, and then his son James Stoney, owned the Otter Hole Plantation.