Edward T.H.  Shaffer was a Walterboro, South Carolina businessman, farmer, and historian. In 1939, he identified the 10 “best” plantation gardens in South Carolina. At that time the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester area population was only 167,000. Today these three counties are home to nearly 600,000 people.

A visitor, Elizabeth Anne Poyas, described the plantation in her book Our Forefathers: Their Homes and Their Churches as, “the most charming inland place, (with its numerous shady walks, its meandering creek, stylish gate and bridge)...” She went on to mention that the plantation  was, “rendered more attractive by its beautiful southern court-yard, with its graveled walks, enclosed with living box, and containing flowers of every hue and tropical fragrance. To the warm, youthful feelings, the gardens were Hesperian, beautiful with beds of flowers, embowered walks, cool retreats and alcove seats. The widely extended fields were perfectly Elysian.”

An 1800 plat shows the Waring settlement. The gardens are depicted as four quadrants southeast of the main house. Shaffer explained that by 1887 the “palatial residence” was only a “heap of bricks” and the gardens had been “cleared and plowed,” covered “with thick second growth forest.” Aerial photographs from 1938 show a stain that was the main house. All around it are plowed fields with no sign of a garden.

Although nothing was visible on the surface, the gardens gave up at least some of their secrets to careful archaeological study. Soils were studied for the chemicals they contained. Archaeologists found that the soil pH had been altered – making the garden less acidic and more able to support garden plants. Another essential plant nutrient, phosphate, was also higher in the Tranquil Hill garden than elsewhere on the archaeological site. This reveals that the owners were adding compost to their garden to improve the soil – just like gardeners today.
 

Archaeologists also studied the pollen and phytoliths recovered from the garden soil. This work revealed evidence of plants that might have been intentionally planted. Recovered was pollen of Artemisia, an herb, accent plant, and medicinal plant. Also recovered was pollen of Liliaceae, a member of the four o-clock family, and roses. Pollen of the pink family was found. Flowers in the pink family include Sweet William and carnations. Thus, archaeologists were able to identify some of the plants and flowers that were found in the Tranquil Hill gardens over 150 years ago!

The gardens gave up additional mysteries during excavation. Chicora archaeologists found the northern edge of the garden, identified by a narrow planting bed. This would have been about 2˝ feet wide at the surface and about 2 feet in depth. This is perfect for the planting of boxwood or a similar hedging material. The soils were dark – indicating that the soil was amended with organics. The phytolith study suggests kitchen debris and ash were used as compost.

The one garden quadrant – or parterre – measured 220 by 120 feet, or 0.6 acre (that’s about half of a football field).

Small structures were located at the northeast and northwest corners of the garden parterre. One was wood, the other brick. Both were only three-sided, with the north sides open. Both structures originally measured 15 by 24 feet. These likely represented what are known as garden follies – perhaps arbor alcoves intended for meditation.

The archaeology also found postholes throughout the garden, as well as what were likely planting holes. Artifacts were uncommon – indicating that the garden wasn’t used for trash disposal, but was kept clean.

Gardens didn’t just exist on plantations – they were a common feature in urban settings as well. Charleston’s wealthy planters almost always included a garden on their townhouse property. Archaeology is also being conducted in these urban settings. One of the best is The Charleston Museum’s excavations at the Nathaniel Russell House in downtown Charleston, South Carolina.

Resources
Learn More About the Archaeology at Tranquil Hill

Other Web Resources 

Gunston Hall Plantation Garden Archaeology

New England Landscape Design & History Association

Garden Archaeology at the Wren Yard, College of William and Mary

Mount Vernon’s Upper Garden and Mount Vernon’s Fruit Garden and Nursery

The Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation

South Carolina Historic Landscape Initiative

Where to Find Library Books on Garden Archaeology

Yamin and Metheny, Landscape Archaeology

Kelson and Most, Earth Patterns: Essays in Landscape Archaeology

Noël Hume, Archaeology and the Colonial Gardener

Miller and Gleason, The Archaeology of Garden and Field

Taylor, The Archaeology of Gardens

Where to Find Library Books on Historic Garden Restoration/Preservation

Goulty, Heritage Gardens

Favretti and Favretti, Landscapes and Gardens for Historic Buildings

Adams, Restoring American Gardens