October 18th is International Archaeology Day, and like any well-researched topic, telling a more complete story about the past sometimes requires digging not just into archives but into the ground beneath our feet. This is precisely what the Coastal Georgia Historical Society’s (CGHS) Archaeology Lab has been doing since its founding in 2011, as parts of our region’s history can only be uncovered through archaeology.
Coastal Georgia Historical Society
Coastal Georgia Historical Society Archeology Lab
Located inside the World War II Home Front Museum on St. Simons Island, CGHS’s Archaeology Lab is overseen by Dr. Aaron Ellrich. It houses more than 50 collections from archaeological surveys and excavations across the region, representing over 4,000 years of Coastal Georgia history. Most of these collections are curated in trust on behalf of the St. Simons Land Trust. The Land Trust owns the artifacts, and the Lab cares for them as part of an ongoing relationship. The curated artifacts, ranging from Native American pottery and British tableware to plantation-era tools, offer a tangible connection to the people who once lived and labored along our coast.
Coastal Georgia Historical Society
Artifacts A-C from Coastal Georgia Historical Society's Archeology Lab
Some of the earliest pottery in North America was produced on our coast. A remarkable example in CGHS’s collection is a partially reconstructed vessel of St. Simons pottery (Artifact A). Approximately 3,000 to 4,000 years old, this Native American vessel features punctated designs and reflects some of the region’s oldest craftsmanship.
Other artifacts recovered through archaeology include European ceramics like pearlware. Popular from the late 18th to the mid-19th century, pearlware was a common feature on dining tables of the past (Artifact B). Often decorated with transfer print designs, platters, like the partially complete one featured here, reveal how households once used a range of tableware much like we do today.
Beyond the dining table, archaeology also reveals the labor that sustained daily life. Iron hoes, for instance, were essential tools on plantations across Coastal Georgia (Artifact C). Implements like these serve as poignant reminders of the labor and legacies of enslaved individuals who drove much of the region’s antebellum economy.
Lastly, small finds like buttons offer glimpses into clothing and identity. CGHS’s collection includes a range, from plain to symbolic, such as those tied to military service and political events. One artillery regiment button, dating between 1810 and 1830, bears the stamp “Extra Rich,” indicating a high-quality gilt finish (Artifact D). Another, from 1829, commemorates Andrew Jackson’s presidential inauguration and is an early example of political memorabilia (Artifact E).
Coastal Georgia Historical Society
Artifacts D-E from Coastal Georgia Historical Society's Archeology Lab
But CGHS’s Lab is more than a repository. Under Dr. Ellrich’s leadership, it provides services in cultural resource management, artifact conservation, and outreach. It also offers hands-on opportunities. Lab volunteers help uncover and preserve history by assisting with artifact processing, cataloging, conservation, and, when possible, excavation.
So, as we move through October, consider how archaeology shapes our understanding of the past and how each new discovery brings us closer to the lives of those who shaped the world we live in today. This month’s featured images include artifacts from the Archaeology Lab and a photograph of the Lab’s workspace. To learn more about Dr. Ellrich’s work, the CGHS Archaeology Lab, and artifacts like the ones pictured here, visit the Society’s new archaeology blog at coastalgeorgiahistory.org/archaeology-blog.
The Coastal Georgia Historical Society presents this article and images from our archives as part of our mission “to connect people to Coastal Georgia’s dynamic history.” The Society operates the iconic St. Simons Lighthouse Museum and the World War II Home Front Museum, housed in the Historic Coast Guard Station at East Beach. To learn more about the Society, its museums, diverse programs, and membership, please visit coastalgeorgiahistory.org.
