Archaeologists Uncover American Slaves' Engineering Feats Underwater

[Judi Lynn]

Published Mar 01, 2024 at 12:10 PM EST
Updated Mar 01, 2024 at 7:26 PM

By Aristos Georgiou
Science and Health Reporter

Researchers have uncovered engineering feats hidden below water in North Carolina that shed light on the history of agriculture and slavery in the state.

Mark Wilde-Ramsing, a former director of the Underwater Archaeology Branch of the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology, and Joni "Osku" Backstrom, an environmental sciences assistant professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), have been traversing the waters in and around Eagles Island for the past two years.

Their goal has been to document the archaeological remains of rice cultivation on the northern end of the 2,100-acre island, which is located just to the west of Wilmington, North Carolina, and nestled between the lower Cape Fear and Brunswick rivers.

"The northern end of this large island has not been altered significantly through time and thus retains several dozen weathered yet relatively intact rice fields from the 19th century," Wilde-Ramsing and Backstrom told Newsweek.

During their recent investigations, the researchers have identified various remains related to rice cultivation, including structures designed to control water.

More:
https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologists-uncover-american-slaves-engineering-feats-underwater-1875161?piano_t=1