Public archaeology at Baynard-Zion: bringing life back to an antebellum cemetery

ABSTRACT

Heritage tourism is a driving economic force in much of the coastal southeastern United States, including on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, one of the most popular destinations for vacationers in the country. Working with local community members in developing a diverse and multipronged public archaeology program, we helped facilitate research and develop programing at the Baynard Mausoleum and Zion Chapel of Ease and Cemetery (Baynard-Zion). Built and used during the late eighteenth through mid-nineteenth centuries, Baynard-Zion includes some of the oldest marked graves on the island as well as its oldest standing architecture. Using a constellation of techniques, including geophysical surveys, genetic testing of human remains, and limited excavations, research conducted at Baynard-Zion provides an opportunity to enhance public perception and understanding of pivotal historic events and people on the island while also assisting in development plans that promote heritage tourism.

KEYWORDS:

• Public archaeology
• antebellum
• Hilton Head Island
• geophysics
• DNA
• heritage tourism

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the community members who made our work possible, particularly Ruth Bartlett, who provided housing over multiple years, as well as Lenore and Marty Gleason and Kay and Tom Sharp, who each housed our crews for a summer. We also appreciate the support of the Hilton Head Island chapter of the Archaeological Society of South Carolina and the Coastal Discovery Center, who provided volunteers. Financial support for the rehabilitation of Baynard-Zion came from more than 100 local donors (a full list of which can be found here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5802c4d9414fb5e45ce4dc44/t/5e94a963f817fa211d819523/1586801014419/HL_Observer_April2020_email.pdf). We are particularly thankful for the financial assistance offered by the Church Mouse Boutique Thrift Shop, the Cypress of HHI Association, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith, who were very generous donors. We also appreciate Joyce Kelliher, who provided genealogical work to find the descendants of the Baynards. We also thank D. Andrew Merriwether, who provided access to his ancient DNA laboratory. Finally, Timothy DeSmet assisted in the analysis of geophysical data, and we utilized equipment and facilities provided by the Geophysics and Remote Sensing Laboratory at Binghamton University for which we are thankful.

Data availability statement

Geophysical and DNA data are held at Binghamton University. All other materials are held by the Heritage Library on Hilton Head Island.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Notes on the contributors

Matthew C. Sanger is the curator of North American Archaeology at the National Museum of the American Indian. He was the director of the Public Archaeology program at Binghamton University while this research was conducted. Community engagement and education are central to his work, which typically focuses on the southeastern United States.

Kimberly Cavanagh is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of South Carolina Beaufort where she studies the social and economic impacts of cultural and heritage tourism in Jordan and around the Red Sea.

Michel Shamoon-Pour is a molecular anthropologist specializing in population genetics and paleogenomics of the Middle East. He is a research assistant professor with Binghamton University's First-year Research Immersion (FRI) program.

Richard Thomas is a former linguist, cultural anthropologist, global executive and management consultant who has deeply researched the history of Hilton Head. He is currently the co-chair of the Department of History at the Heritage Library on Hilton Head Island.

Linda Piekut was the executive director of the Heritage Library when this research was conducted and is now retired and living on Hilton Head Island.

Samuel Bourcy is an archaeology PhD student at Binghamton University whose doctoral research employs collaboration and education to engage with current Native American groups and other local stakeholders when studying precontact Native American sites using geophysics in the northeastern United States.

Katherine Seeber is a PhD candidate at Binghamton University and director of the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park Community Archaeology Program. She practices community-based research protocols and is invested in using archaeology as a tool for social change, education, and utilizing archaeological data to engage contemporary communities with the past.

Notes

1 The Beaufort County coroner was contacted to review the remains along with a local retired pathologist, who determined the remains were not recent in origin and should be sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Additional information

Funding

Financial assistance for rehabilitation of Baynard-Zion, which included archaeological and genetic research, was provided by the Heritage Library, who received donations from more than 100 local donors (a full list of which can be found here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5802c4d9414fb5e45ce4dc44/t/5e94a963f817fa211d819523/1586801014419/HL_Observer_April2020_email.pdf). The Hilton Head Island chapter of the Archaeological Society of South Carolina also provided a small grant for research.