This fall, the archaeology lab had the pleasure of partnering with the Cassina Garden Club for a small excavation tied to their seminar series, Dig a Little Deeper, organized by Club historian Janis Rodriguez. The goal of the excavation was exciting: to explore whether another enslaved cabin associated with Hamilton Plantation could be identified archaeologically.
While two tabby enslaved cabins still stand today, historical accounts make it clear that additional structures once existed on the landscape.
In September, more than 20 Club members joined throughout the day as I opened a small test unit in an area believed to be a strong candidate for locating another cabin. Their energy and curiosity brought a fantastic liveliness to the work—and by day’s end, we had strong evidence confirming the location of an additional enslaved cabin. It was an important discovery, and The Brunswick News was there to capture the moment.
A Look Behind the Scenes: Artifact Cleaning at the Lab
Our collaboration didn’t end in the field. In October, around 14 Club members came to our archaeology lab to help clean artifacts recovered during the excavation. For many, this was a chance to see a side of archaeology that often goes overlooked. With the help of one of my lab volunteers, Myrna Crook, we walked Club members through the process of gently washing artifacts, keeping materials organized by their place of discovery, and cataloging them by site, project number, and field specimen number.
As I often tell people interested in archaeology, one day of fieldwork can easily turn into three to five days of lab work. Having the Club members join us in that next stage was not only helpful but added an extra layer of meaning to the project.
Looking Ahead
Overall, it was a wonderful experience working with the Cassina Garden Club. Their enthusiasm and support made this a memorable community project—and we’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with them. We’re also honored that the Coastal Georgia Historical Society is able to curate the Cassina Garden Club artifacts in-trust, ensuring they remain preserved for future research and interpretation.
Special thanks to Janis Rodriguez for inviting me to take part in her Dig a Little Deeper seminar series, and to Club President Sally Chao for her support throughout the project.
