Archaeological investigations were conducted to collect information about the nature of archaeological deposits associated with one of the three standing tabby slave cabins at North End Plantation. Date gathered during the investigation may be used to plan for additional investigations at the cabins prior to proposed restoration of the cabins and development of interpretive exhibits by the Ossabaw Island Foundation. Staff of the Office of the State Archaeologist planned and directed the investigation, assisted by staff of the Historic Preservation Division and other DNR employees. The investigation served as a training exercise for DNR Law Enforcement personnel and other DNR staff, who were provided with classroom instruction and hands-on experience in archaeological field methods (in other words, they did most of the work). Thanks to their hard work, we learned that there are intact, stratified archaeological deposits around the tabbies that may provide important information about when the buildings were constructed, the range of occupation, and the lives of enslaved Africans who lived and worked on Ossabaw from the Colonial Period until the Civil War. It is possible that the cabins were occupied by freed slaves after the war ended. Based on information collected during this investigation/workshop, additional archaeological investigations will be recommended.
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