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.

south carolina food

Food & Wine
A Foodie’s Guide to the South Carolina Lowcountry

Best Things to Eat in South Carolina’s Lowcountry When it comes to Southern cuisine, no place captures the heart (and appetite) quite like the South Carolina Lowcountry. Rooted in history and layered with coastal influence, this region serves up a culinary id...

Jul 2025
palmetto bluff marissa wolf

Culture
Behind the Bluff with Membership Manager: Marissa Wolf

Marissa’s Journey to Palmetto Bluff At Palmetto Bluff, hospitality goes beyond service; it’s a way of life. For Members and visitors alike, there’s a quiet charm to the place that draws you in, makes you feel at ease, and leaves a lasting impression. Few peop...

Jul 2025

Culture
Paradise Found: Hidden Nature Trails in Palmetto Bluff

Top 7 Palmetto Bluff Nature Trails Do you ever get the feeling of wanting to escape and wander into a serene paradise? The nature trails at Palmetto Bluff afford opportunities to roam and admire the vastness of the Bluff’s 20,000 acres. Throughout the communi...

Jun 2025

Architecture & Design
Moreland Village: Laid Back Luxury

Palmetto Bluff’s Moreland Village feels a world away from the more traditional architecture of the iconi...

Jun 2025

Culture
2025 Inspiring the Arts Scholarship Recipients

We are thrilled to introduce the inaugural winners of the Inspiring the Arts Scholarship—three extraordinary young women pursuing their artistic dreams through higher education! Katherine Donahue has been named our first official scholarship recipient, wit...

Jun 2025

Culture
Summer Style in the Bluff: Discover What’s New in Retail

From handmade jewelry to performance wear, the latest arrivals at Palmetto Bluff’s retail spots capture the season in true Lowcountry style. This summer, the Bluff’s shops are full of fresh finds, carefully chosen by our trusted retailers—including FLOW Galler...

Jun 2025

Conservation
Citizen Science

Citizen Science is Thriving at Palmetto BluffDid you know that residents of Palmetto Bluff are playing a vital role in national and global conservation efforts—all from their backyard?Through the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy’s growing Citizen Science programs, c...

Jun 2025

Artist in Residence
Music Mosaic

In October 2024, Grammy Award-winning musician Clay Ross visited Palmetto Bluff as part of The Arts Initiative's Artist in Residence Program. Through storytelling and song, he explores identity, heritage, and the universal language of sound. By Barry Kaufman ...

Jun 2025

Food & Wine
Peach Perfect

Palmetto Bluff Club Executive Chef  Beth Cosgrove and Director of Culinary, Chef Rhy Waddington, Cook Up Four Peachy Recipes for a Summer in the South. Is there anything more iconic than a southern peach? A symbol of summer and Southern heritage, the peach car...

Jun 2025

Culture
Finding Fish

Following the tides and angling for redfish in Lowcountry creeks and estuaries with Captains Brian Vaughn and Will Stephens Story by Sandy Lang It is a sunny morning in October and the water is calm and glassy. The silence is punctuated by a gush of breath f...

Jun 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