Jamestown Reconnaissance Survey; LAMAR Institute Publication 16

This brief report summarizes the results of an archaeological reconnaissance of the Jamestown site in Berkeley County, South Carolina. This project was a collaborative research effort of the Lamar Institute and Diachronic Research Foundation and was intended to expand the known universe of historic archaeological sites in South Carolina. Through a combined use of historical research, surface reconnaissance, systematic shovel testing, and limited testing, the survey resulted in the partial identification of one archaeological site which contains the remains of the Jamestown settlement. This project was not required by any impending construction or federal or state environmental legislation, but was conducted solely for its research value. Funding for the project was provided by the crew members, and supplies were provided by the two sponsoring non-profit organizations. Access to the town site was graciously provided by the landowner, James Pipkin. The Jamestown site is located on the south bank of the Santee River in the lower coastal plain of Berkeley County, South Carolina approximately 32 kilometers (20 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean. The town site is located northeast of the present Jamestown community, north of Hell Hole Swamp and State Road 45, and east of U.S. Highway 17A and Lenuds Ferry. The site is situated on a high bluff approximately 25 ft above sea level as shown on the Jamestown quadrangle (U.S.G.S. 1973). Soils on the site consist of Craven sandy loam. The site currently is in mixed pine and hardwood forest. Portions that were examined include areas of mature forest and other areas that have been timbered in recent years. The entire region was devastated by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. This resulted in the uprooting of several dozen large hardwood trees. Subsequent regrowth resulting from the open forest canopy made parts of the town nearly impenetrable. Prior to Hugo, this area was a pleasant forest. Most, if not all, of the town site has not been cultivated by tractor, but deep ruts resulting from modern logging operations, however, have damaged portions of the site. The original town site covers an area approximately 1038 m x 540 m as shown on Thomas Gaillard's redrawings of original plats of the town site (Smith 1908).