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Fieldwork at Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve yields artifacts, USC to analyze finds
Summary
A month-long excavation and prior shovel tests at Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve produced artifacts spanning prehistoric to 19th-century occupation; nearly two tons of material were sent to USC for lab analysis and curation.
A narrated county segment described recent archaeology at Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve in Port Royal. University-contracted field teams conducted shovel test probes across a three-acre site and then opened contiguous 2-meter units for a month of excavation, recovering artifacts that span prehistoric periods through the 19th century.
The narration detailed methodology—grid layout, shovel testing every 10 meters, screening soil through quarter-inch mesh, bagging artifacts by provenience, and moving to lab curation. The segment said nearly two tons of oyster shell, bricks and artifacts were transported to the University of South Carolina’s Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology in Columbia for analysis.
Officials noted the work will guide future excavation phases and help the state Department of Natural Resources provide improved public access to the site. The units were backfilled at the end of the field season to preserve in-place integrity and public safety.
