Charleston : an Archaeology of Life in a Coastal Community

Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the most storied cities of the American South. Well known for its historic buildings and landscape, its thriving maritime culture, and its role in the beginning of the American Civil War, many consider it the birthplace of historic preservation. In Charleston, Martha Zierden and Elizabeth Reitz whose archaeological fieldwork in the city spans more than three decades reveal a vibrant, densely packed city, where people, animals, and colonial activity carried on in close proximity. Examining animal bones and the ruins of taverns, markets, townhouses, and smaller homes, the authors consider the residential, commercial, and public life of the city and the dynamics of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services that linked it with rural neighbors and global markets. From early attempts at settlement and cattle ranching to the Denmark Vesey insurrection and efforts to improve the city s drinking water, Zierden and Reitz explore the evolution of the urban environment, the intricacies of provisioning such a unique city, and the urban foodways and cuisine that continue to inspire Charleston s culinary scene even today." The authors explore historic buildings and maritime landscape of Charleston SC. They consider the residential, commercial, and public life in the city, examining ruins of taverns, markets, townhouses, and small residences as well as the famous Slave Market and the lesser-known shell mound.