Seasons in the Sun: 1989 & 1990 Excavation at New Ebenezer

This report details the 1989 and 1990 archaeological investigations in the eighteenth century town of New Ebenezer (9Ef28) located in Effingham County, Georgia. Excavations were conducted on three areas of the town containing evidence of colonial period settlement: the First and Eighth Tythings, East Ward, and the 1752 to 1775 silk filature. These were the first major excavations conducted within New Ebenezer. A total of 90m2 was excavated in eight discrete block units resulting in the location of many domestic features. Most of the features are associated with the Schrempff family's occupation of Lot 1, Eighth Tything (dating from 1750-1774). A well dating between 1774 to before 1800 was examined on Lot 3, Eighth Tything, and attributed to the Kronberger family. Careful study of the artifact and feature layout on the Eighth Tything led to a refinement in modern day mapping of the original townsite. The search for the silk filature met with positive results and several features associated with this important industrial complex were located. Other industrial evidence included artifacts associated with Rupert Schrempff s first and second blacksmith shops, which operated from 17431747 and 1750-1753, respectively. Additional survey was conducted on the southern and western portions of New Ebenezer including the orphanage lot. Survey in the southern areas of town identified limited areas of research potential, while survey in Ebenezer's West Ward identified artifacts probably associated with the orphanage. An appendix to this volume provided by Karen G. Wood provides a glimpse of eighteenth century foodways in the Schrempff household. Faunal material recovered from the Schrempffs cellar revealed a mixture of domestic and wild animal species.