The Journeys field trip on November 20 will explore the legacy of daily life and trade in and around Darien, Georgia.
Led by our staff archaeologist, Dr. Aaron Ellrich, the tour will include stops at Hopeton-on-the-Altamaha, Darien’s historic waterfront, the Adam Strain Building, Laurel Grove Plantation, and Elizafield Plantation.
The tour departs from the A.W. Jones Heritage Center at 8:30 AM.
Stop 1: The first stop is Hopeton-on-the-Altamaha, just south of Darien, where participants will learn about James Hamilton Couper’s 19th-century sugar mill and rice cultivation operations.
Stop 2: From there, the group will continue to downtown Darien for a visit along the historic waterfront, where a discussion of coastal trade will be presented alongside an overview of archaeological work previously conducted on both the lower and upper bluff.
Lunch: Included with the tour, lunch will be held at the Tabby House Brewing Company. During this break, Dr. Ellrich will present findings from archaeological research on the Adam Strain Building, complemented by a display of recovered artifacts currently on exhibit.
Stop 3: Following lunch, the group will visit the tabby ruins of Laurel Grove to learn about the legacy of the Kell family. The tour concludes at Elizafield Plantation, where Dr. Ellrich will discuss early archaeological investigations by James A. Ford, whose 1934 excavations helped dispel the long-held belief that Coastal Georgia’s tabby ruins were remnants of Spanish missions.
Transportation Information: Participants will be responsible for their own transportation. Carpooling is encouraged, and a sign-up sheet will be circulated in advance. Please note that a portion of the tour at Hopeton-on-the-Altamaha involves driving along a dirt road.
The program is scheduled to run from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
Due to site access and space limitations, participation is limited to 30 participants.
