Dig uncovers valuable artifacts at the Seibels House

Joseph Samolis explains how the valuable artifacts were uncovered from a six–foot pit in the kitchen of the Seibels House.

Hidden beneath the kitchen floor for over 200 years were a gold necklace, a bone and horsehair toothbrush, English pottery, buckshot, buttons, a medicine bottle, and glass marbles. Archeologists found these items and many more artifacts dating to 1790 during a two–year dig at the historic Seibels House on Richland Street.

USC masters student Joseph Samolis gave a lecture and tour last week explaining the work done by himself, Dr. Terry Weik, and John Sherrer in a dig sponsored by Historic Columbia Foundation and the USC Department of Anthropology. The goals of the research are to reconstruct the histories of African Americans who lived on the Seibels property and place their life histories in the larger Columbia community.

The work continues and volunteers are needed. If you are interested, please contact John Sherrer at Historic Columbia Foundation, 252-1770.