The Field Work
Researchers began the work of identifying the important characteristics of inland rice fields by gathering historical data about 18th century rice growing. They collected old plats and maps from 11 former rice plantations and acquired modern aerial photographs that showed the old plantation lands. Interestingly, some old plats did not show fields but researchers could see them in the aerial photographs. Sometimes plats showed fields and nothing could be discerned on the modern aerial image. Sometimes researchers had nothing to go on but the knowledge that a former plantation once was located on the property.
To really understand how these kinds of documents could help identify old fields, archaeologists went to the former plantations to ground-truth the information in the documents. During each rice field visit, archaeologists recorded the location and condition of the fields. This is how they developed a set of rice field characteristics.
At Windsor Hill and Woodland plantations located along Palmetto Commerce Parkway, the project archaeologists excavated a small section of two embankments to learn about their construction. They were excited to learn that the two embankments were built differently – one was made by simply piling up the dirt from the ditch to make the embankment. The second embankment was more complicated. Along with the dirt from the ditch, the builders added clay and sand in a purposeful way to build the embankment. This tells us that not all embankments were alike and may have served different purposes in moving water and draining fields.
Archaeologists also collected four soil samples during their field investigations. They sent the soil samples to a specialist for analysis hoping to find evidence of rice. They hoped this would help them identify the varieties of rice grown at this early period of rice production. Unfortunately no rice was found so this mystery continues.
An aerial photograph of former rice plantation lands. Can you pick out the old fields?
A 1837 plat of former Dean Hall plantation. Look for the rice fields.
A cross-section of a rice field embankment.