Students in archaeology first to dig at Historic Brattonsville’s slave cemetery
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 12:08PM By Jonathan McFadden
mcfaddenj@thejohnsonian.com
Students in professor Christina Brooks’ fieldwork in archaeology class dug at this site in fall 2009. Next semester, students will excavate a slave cemetery at Historic Brattonsville. Photo courtesy of Christina Brooks.Students can get down and dirty in a course offered at Historic Brattonsville next semester: anthropology 345: fieldwork in archaeology.
The course is designed to give students practical hands-on experience in completing archaeological surveys and excavations, said Christina Brooks, professor of anthropology and sociology.
This is not the first time the course has been offered, but it is the first time anyone has been allowed to excavate a site at Brattonsville.
Brooks, who will teach the class, and her students will be examining a slave cemetery on the property.
“This is exciting because no one has been allowed on the site,” Brooks said. “Winthrop students will be the first to explore this unique site.”
Historic Brattonsville is a 775-acre Revolutionary War site, which re-enacts the historical context of the the colonial day and age through the story of the Bratton family.
The class is just the first phase of a potential partnership between Winthrop and Historic Brattonsville.
“While the partnership has not officially been formed, the course next semester is the beginning of what I hope to be a long relationship with Historic Brattonsville,” Brooks said.
The course will be held on Saturdays at the historic site which is on Cherry Road.
“This Saturday schedule will hopefully allow this course to fit in nicely with students’ schedules,” Brooks said.
Senior art history major Sarah Earle said if she has room in her schedule, she may consider taking the class.
Earle, who is currently enrolled in Brooks’ introduction to archaeology class, said she has an interest in the subject and has considered making anthropology her minor.
Giving up her Saturdays won’t be a problem either. The only thing she thinks it would hurt is work on the weekends.
There’s also a more aesthetic appeal.
“I think it’ll be fun to dig around in the dirt,” Earle said.
