The Stono Preserve's Changing Landscape

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Authors and Researchers

Meet the Authors

Dr. Kimberly Pyszka is an associate professor of Anthropology at Auburn University at Montgomery and a 1992 College of Charleston alumna. She has co-directed archaeological fieldwork at Stono Preserve since 2007. Dr. Pyszka earned her Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee where her dissertation research centered on St. Paul’s Parish Church and its parsonage. Her primary research interests include the study of landscapes and architecture of religious structures, frontier studies, and colonialism.

Dr. Maureen Hays received her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. She joined the College of Charleston Faculty in 1998 and is currently a Professor of Anthropology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. She is an archaeologist who has spent most of her academic career investigating the Paleolithic societies in Europe. On this side of the pond, she addresses similar questions at prehistoric and historic sites in the Southeast. She is the co-principal investigator of archaeological research at Stono Preserve.

Meet the Contributing Researchers

Olivia Adams graduated from the College of Charleston in 2015 with degrees in anthropology and archaeology. She supervised the 2014 archaeological excavations at the tenant house sites. She was lead author on “Landscape Archaeology and GIS: Understanding Cultural Adaptation and Tenant Farming in the Lowcountry (Hollywood, SC)” a poster presented at the 71st annual meeting of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference, Greenville, SC. 

Jaymie Baggerly graduated from the College of Charleston in 2015 with a degree in anthropology. She developed programs for educational outreach.

Eva Falls graduated from the College of Charleston in 2011 with a degree in anthropology. She supervised the 2012 archaeological excavations at the slave settlement site. Eva received her M.A. degree from East Carolina University in 2014 and her thesis was entitled “An Archaeological Exploration of a Settlement at Dixie Plantation, Hollywood, SC.” She was lead author on “An Archaeological Exploration into a 19th Century Slave Settlement, Hollywood, SC” a poster presented at 78th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Honolulu, HI.

Samantha Fresh graduated from the College of Charleston in 2019 with a degree in anthropology. She supervised 2018 archaeological excavations at the parsonage site. She was lead author on “From Storage to Refuse: Excavations of St. Paul’s Parsonage Cellar, Hollywood, South Carolina” a poster presented at the 75th annual meeting of the Southeaster Anthropological Conference, Augusta, GA.

Nathan Fulmer graduated from the College of Charleston in 2012. Nate supervised 2011 archaeological excavations at the parsonage site.  He is co-author on the 2011 paper "'…a small but convenient House of Brick': A Tale of the St. Paul's Parsonage House, Hollywood, South Carolina, USA.” Journal of the Society for Church Archaeology 15:47-54. 

Dr. Scott Harris received his PhD in geology from the University of Delaware and is a specialist in paleo-landscape evolution, primarily within coastal plain and continental shelf environments. He is a member of the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences at the College of Charleston. He conducted the geophysical research in 2009 at the St. Paul’s Church site using Ground Penetrating Radar.

Casey Jenkins graduated from the College of Charleston in 2010 with a degree in anthropology and received her M.A. in biological anthropology from Illinois State University in 2013. Her research at Stono Preserve focused on spatial distribution of artifacts and site function, and public outreach.

Lizzy Laforgia graduated from the College of Charleston in 2010 with a degree in anthropology. She supervised archaeological excavations at the parsonage site and developed programs for educational outreach.

Debbie Lipscomb graduated from the College of Charleston in 2016 with degrees in anthropology and archaeology. She developed programs for educational outreach.

Nickolas Long will graduate from Auburn University of Montgomery in 2020 with a degree in sociology and a concentration in anthropology. He was lead author on “Under the House: Ceramic Analysis from the St. Paul’s Parsonage Cellar, Hollywood, South Carolina,” a poster presented at the 75th annual meeting of the Southeastern Anthropological Conference, Augusta, GA.

Kalen McNabb graduated from the College of Charleston in 2010 with degrees in historic preservation and geology. He received his M.S. degree in historic preservation in 2012 from the University of Pennsylvania. He is co-author on the 2017 paper “Small, but Convenient?: An Update on the St. Paul’s Parsonage, Hollywood, South Carolina, U.S.A.” Journal of the Society for Church Archaeology 18: 39-50 and the 2011 paper "…a small but convenient House of Brick”: A Tale of the St. Paul's Parsonage House, Hollywood, South Carolina, USA.” Journal of the Society for Church Archaeology 15:47-54.

William Chase Murphee graduated from the College of Charleston in 2011 with degree in anthropology. He received his M. Phil. degree in Archaeology from the University of Cambridge and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Universidade do Algarve, Portugal. He supervised 2014 archaeological excavations at the church site.

Summer Salter graduated from Auburn University of Montgomery in 2016 with degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Anthropology. She was lead author on “A 'few other necessary Timber Buildings': An Update on the St. Pauls’ Parsonage, Hollywood, South Carolina,” a poster presented at the 73rd annual meeting of the Southeastern Anthropological Conference, Athens, GA.

Editorial Contributors

Katherine Pemberton, Clemson University and Historic Charleston Foundation 
Stephanie Yuhl, College of the Holy Cross and Harvard Graduate School of Design