Exploring Charles Towne Landing Historic Site and State Park

After several meetings with Cicek Bibi, the classical archaeologist who is running the entire series of digs at Charles Towne Landing State Park, I was amazed to hear that only a mere one-percent of the entire site has been excavated to date! This 400-plus acre site (see below) was the original stop for the settlers of what was formerly referred to as "Charles Towne" upon their arrival in 1670. It was not until nearly ten years later that they relocated to Oyster Point, the peninsula of Charleston that is currently the downtown area, though the settlers had begun scouting that area almost immediately after their arrival on the later-to-be named Ashley River. Undoubtedly, these grounds will unearth over time many more artifacts than the plate and earthen sherds, broken pipe stems and beads that were carried over to ply their trade with the Native Americans.

For a complete list of Native American tribes throughout the Lowcountry as well as Carolina, visit the following resource: SCiway.net Links



View Larger Map


A lot will be going on with the active dig site once this spring rolls around. For now, it is merely sifting through hundreds of bags of dirt from a huge backlog that resulted from state budget cuts. While the staff of fulltime archaeologists and researchers once numbered six, it is down to merely one at this time. Volunteers (and material donors) are desperately needed!

Interesting fact: not one single human remain from the first settlers to colonize Charleston has been found to-date. It is, however, believed that there is an aggregate burial yard, and its probable location can be isolated.

For more information on Charles Towne Landing historic site, click here as a link.