Slave
Culture Uncovered in GeorgiaExtracted from an
account by Mike Toner of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution- who notes that
evidence emerges through excavation of a thriving community of free African
American artisans in Agusta, Georgia during the time of slavery. Joe Joseph,
vice president of New South Associates, an Atlanta, Georgia based Archaeology
firm said that- `By looking at the landscapes, the architecture and the material
culture that remains, we are getting a more complete
picture of what it was
really like.` He continued- `The emerging picture is one of a culture that had
much
depth to it than we
used to
believe.` Taking stock of the latest discovery-
the Georgia Society of Archaeology states that `The emerging picture is one of a
culture that had much more depth to it than we used to believe.` Astonishing
evidence from these findings vividly portray a cultue where `slates and writing
materials from the Benning Compound, for instance, attest(to the fact) that
despite laws forbidding it- some slaves were reading and writing.` Dramatically
displaying a vibrant culture in spite of adversity- Archaeologist Dan Elliott
discovered remains of a ``pre-Revolution (1775) slave population.`` Items such
as buttons, ceramics and harmonicas that originated in the 1760s were found.
During this period settlers used tabby (a poured mixture of lime, water, sand
and oyster shells), to construct their cabins. Many historicans contend that
tabby came from the northwest coast of Africa. Most significantly,
archaeologists,uncovereda community of free African-Americans who started in
this area following the American Revolution`` (1776-1781. By the year 1787, this
group of people established the Springfield Baptist Church. This institution
stands as the oldest African American Church in the USA.