CONWAY -- Large lumps of resin unearthed by telecom companies led to the first dig by the new Coastal Carolina University Archaeological Field School.
Located near the Waccamaw River between Kingston Presbyterian Church and the railroad tracks, the team uncovered numerous artifacts from the 19th century government shipyard of Conwayborough, which was Conway's name at the time.
Cheryl Ward, director of CCU's Center for Archaeology and Anthropology, said Wednesday the shipyard was created after the Civil War and built ships and boats that carried products "to the wide world."
The team is trying to piece together a little bit about the people who worked there and what they did from the time the shipyard was built until it was gone and people just sat there to watch the river, Ward said.
Ward had already scheduled a field school and an archaeological dig for the students. When she was notified about the resin, she decided to make that the site of their first dig.
During much of the 1800s, resin, the sap of pine trees, was Horry County's largest crop. Among other things, resin was used to make turpentine and was commonly used as pitch to waterproof ships.
Carolyn Dillian, assistant professor of anthropology in CCU's history department, served as crew chief and co-director for the dig.
The professors and seven students worked at the site Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. They found numerous artifacts such as lumps of resin, pieces of glass and pottery, pieces of mortar and brick, whole bricks, pieces of splintered wood, handmade nails, various types of fresh water and sea shells, a piece of rope and more.
Ward said they also found a tool handle made from bone, as well as metal, parts of barrels and ceramic pieces that date back to the second half of the 1800s.
The students worked in the hot sun but said the experience was a good one for them.
"I'm a history major and eventually have to find out what I want to do with that, and it's looking like archaeology," said Meghan Mumford.
"I want to be an archaeologist, so this is actually very exciting for me. It was a lot of fun and hard work. We found some nice pieces of pottery," said Andrew Rayborn.
"We're having a lot of fun, but we're realizing how much hard works goes into it," said Allison Varriale.
Walter Hill, director of the Horry County Museum, said the museum has a photograph made in 1880, from across the river, which clearly shows the shipyard.
After their last morning of working, the students went on a tour of the museum with Hill and learned more about the area's history of naval stores, resin and the turpentine industry.
They also blogged about the event at archaeologyatcoastalcarolina.wordpress.com.
The students will clean, describe and analyze each piece, and put them in archeological order.
"What's most interesting is the way the artifacts fit together to tell us a story," Ward said.
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