Conservation // 2 min Read

Palmetto Bluff Preserved: Cataloging Artifacts Found at the Bluff

Written by Palmetto Bluff

History is the fabric of our community, and with the help of our on-site archaeologists, Dr. Mary Socci and Katie Epps, we’re expanding what we know about those who came before us.

And as you can expect, with over 20,000 acres, this research takes time. Through the efforts of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, Dr. Socci and her team have spent the past several years finding and recording the area’s historical and cultural sites. To date, we have uncovered more than 13,000 years of history—with the oldest artifact dating back to 10,000 B.C.

As we continue to uncover details of our past, we remain dedicated to learning and preserving the rich history that surrounds Palmetto Bluff and the surrounding Lowcountry. Most recently, Dr. Socci and Katie have been cataloging some of the artifacts found at the Bluff—revealing details about Palmetto Bluff’s previous occupants.

Creamware Plate
This creamware plate was found at one of the plantation sites at Palmetto Bluff. This is a common find at these sites. This pattern dates to 1762-1820. It was mended by our intern, Zoe Klauck.

Bone, Glass, Shell, Metal, and Ceramic Buttons Found on a Plantation
Buttons made of bone, glass, shell, metal, and ceramic found at a plantation site. (Losing buttons off one’s clothing has been a problem for generations!)

Tabacco Pipe Stems
These tobacco pipe stems made of kaolin clay date back to the 18th and 19th century. While no tobacco was grown at Palmetto Bluff, from the number of fragments of pipes found at historic sites here, it’s clear that smoking was very popular.

Glass Bottles
These bottles were painstakingly pieced together by Zoe, our intern.

Oyster Grab Tool
Sometimes artifacts require special treatment to preserve them. This is half of a tool known as an “oyster grab” that was used for harvesting oysters in the late 19th century. It is undergoing electrolysis, a process that removes rust and helps to conserve the metal.

artist in residence programs

Artist in Residence
Palmetto Bluff Artist in Residence 2026: Complete Guide

The Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff: 2026 Artist in Residence Artists and Workshops   There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles over a workshop studio in the early morning; the kind where you can hear brushes moving across canvas, hands shaping clay, ...

Feb 2026
Montage Residents Palmetto Bluff

Real Estate
Montage Residences: Where Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Meets Effortless Luxury

Montage Residences Palmetto Bluff: Turnkey Luxury Homes and Lucrative Real Estate Investments There’s a particular kind of real estate buyer who values their time as much as their money. They understand that true luxury isn’t just about owning things; it’s ab...

Feb 2026

Club Life
A New Year, A Fresh Beginning

Before you let your New Year’s resolutions quietly fade, remember this: there are still eleven months ahead. Plenty of time. Plenty of possibilities. This year offers a different approach—one inspired by connection and support. At Palmetto Bluff, you’re sur...

Jan 2026

Club Life
Anson Point In Action

The newest golf experience at Palmetto Bluff is already drawing rave reviews. As the third pillar of golf experience at Palmetto Bluff, Anson Point brings with it a certain lofty set of expectations. After all, it’s hard to follow something like May River G...

Jan 2026

Club Life
Anson Point: Watch A Legend Come To Life

“It's the thrill of being involved in the creation, and it’s the gratification of watching that creation evolve in the manner which you’d hoped”.Bill Coore, Coore & Crenshaw Golf Course Architectshttps://vimeo.com/1155713833?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=c...

Jan 2026

Architecture & Design
Palette Shift

From punchy pastels to saturated jewel tones, color is breaking free of its neutral confines. In these artful Lowcountry homes, design becomes a joyful expression of personality and place.Story by Barry Kaufman / Photographs by Kelli Boyd and Nicole CohenInter...

Jan 2026
palmetto bluff wellness

Culture
An Aussie Take on Wellness: Meet Palmetto Bluff’s Kendra Till

Inside the New Palmetto Bluff Club Fitness Center, Reformer Pilates Studio, and What Wellness Really Means   Kendra Till's journey to Palmetto Bluff wasn't exactly a straight line. After growing up in Iowa and attending the University of South Carolina, her a...

Jan 2026
best time of year to buy a home

Real Estate
Why Winter Is the Perfect Time to Find Your Home at Palmetto Bluff

Palmetto Bluff Real Estate: Why Winter is the Best Time to Buy Your Lowcountry Home   There’s something about winter in the Lowcountry that reveals the true beauty of what life at Palmetto Bluff truly feels like. Century-old live oaks strung with lights cast ...

Jan 2026
Anson Point Golf Course

Club Life
Behind the Bluff: Will Howard on Developing Anson Point Golf Course

Anson Point Golf Course at Palmetto Bluff: A Coore & Crenshaw Nature-Forward Design  Meet Palmetto Bluff’s Vice President of Development, Will Howard, a Georgia native who found his home in Bluffton over 20 years ago. As VP of Development, Will has a wide...

Jan 2026

Culture
Chef Beth’s Southern Sausage & Sage Stuffing

Warm, fragrant, and deeply comforting, Chef Beth’s Southern Sausage & Sage Stuffing is a holiday classic that brings together rich pork sausage, fresh herbs, and toasted bread for the ultimate savory side dish. Studded with green apples and aromatic vegeta...

Dec 2025

CURIOUS ABOUT LIFE AT THE BLUFF?

Sign up for our newsletter

LIVE
Community Villages
Experience
Palmetto Bluff Club
On The Water
The Arts Initiative
Events
Conserve
About Us