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Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site
Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site is located in South Carolina
Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site
Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site is located in the United States
Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site
Nearest cityBeaufort, South Carolina, U.S.
Built1562
NRHP reference No.74001822
Significant dates
Added to NRHPAugust 7, 1974[1]
Designated NHLJanuary 3, 2001[2]

The Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site is an important early colonial archaeological site on Parris Island, South Carolina, United States. It contains the archaeological remains of a French settlement called Charlesfort, settled in 1562 and abandoned the following year, and the later 16th-century Spanish settlement known as Santa Elena. The Spanish remains include a fort built directly on top of the abandoned Charlesfort remains.

The fort and other nearby structures have been called, at various times, Fort San Marcos or Fort San Felipe, and have the designated archaeological site identifiers 38BU51 and 38BU162. Because of their remarkable state of preservation, and their importance in understanding early French and Spanish colonial practices, the site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2001. The site is accessible through the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Port Royal, South Carolina.

Charlesfort (1562–1563, 1577-1578)

[edit]
Main articles: New France and French Florida
French Florida in 1562, by N. Bellin, 18th century
Floride françoise ("French Florida"), by Pierre du Val, 17th century

Charlesfort was established when a French expedition, organized by Huguenot leader Admiral Gaspard de Coligny and led by the Norman navigator Jean Ribault, landed at the site on the May River in May 1562, before moving north to Port Royal Sound. There, on present-day Parris Island, South Carolina, Ribault left twenty-eight men to build a settlement. He then returned to France to arrange supplies for the new colony but was arrested in England after becoming involved in the period of unrest known as the French Wars of Religion, which prevented his return.

After Ribault left, most of the settlers' stores were burned and Captain Albert de la Pierria died in a mutiny, possibly as a reaction to his heavy discipline. Without supplies or leadership, and beset by hostility from the native population, all but one of the remaining colonists sailed back to Europe after only a year. They built their own boat and set sail, without compass, across the Atlantic. During the long voyage in an open boat, they were reduced to cannibalism: one crew member named La Chère was killed and eaten.[3] The survivors were finally rescued in English waters by an English ship, and some eventually reached France.[4]

Shortly after the departure of the French, Hernando de Manrique de Rojas commanded a Spanish force from Cuba that destroyed Charlesfort and took captive the one Frenchman who had remained, along with the local Native Americans nearby. In January 1577, in a period when the Spanish settlement had been destroyed and not yet rebuilt, the French returned in the ship Le Prince. The expedition was commanded by Nicholas Strozzi, who may have been a brother of Filippo di Piero Strozzi. The ship was lost as she entered Port Royal Sound, and the men built a triangular fort, 130 feet on each side, enclosing five buildings. Many were killed by natives and the rest had been taken captive by the time Spanish returned in spring 1578. The Spanish obtained the captives from the natives between 1578 and 1580 and hanged almost all of them.[5]

Santa Elena (1566–1587)

[edit]
Main articles: Santa Elena (Spanish Florida), New Spain, and Spanish Florida

Founded in 1566 on the site of Charlesfort, Santa Elena was the first capital of Spanish Florida.[6] Fort San Salvador, a simple blockhouse, was built first, and then Fort San Felipe was built directly on top of the old French fort later in the year, with a new moat (the French one having been filled in). The fort was occupied until 1570, when it was destroyed by fire. The Spanish then built a second fort, also called Fort San Felipe, at an unknown nearby location. The fort and town were abandoned in 1576 due in part to hostility of the local natives.[7][8]

In 1577 the Spanish returned and built Fort San Marcos. It was used until 1582 or 1583, when a second Fort San Marcos was constructed. This fortification had a moat dug around it in 1586, in anticipation of an attack by Sir Francis Drake. Santa Elena and the fortifications were finally abandoned in 1587. At its height, the town had about sixty dwellings, with an estimated population of 400-450.[7]

Archaeological history

[edit]
Fort Charles NE bastion

The area's archaeological importance was first identified in the mid-19th century by amateurs, who found what they believed to be Charlesfort and excavated large hinges such as would have been used on a large gate. In the summer of 1917 some of the earthworks associated with the first Fort San Felipe were leveled by United States Marine Corps personnel, filling in part of the moat. In the 1920s Major George Osterhout led an excavation of the site, which he concluded was that of Charlesfort. In response to this determination, a memorial marker was placed at the site.[7]

Osterhout's interpretation was soon disputed, and by the 1950s archaeological consensus was that the site was part of Spanish Santa Elena. It was only after a series of excavations, running from the 1970s to the 1990s, that the full history and layout of the area was identified. Identification of the French fort location was made possible by the restricted location of distinctively French artifacts, and by the evidence that multiple moats had been dug around the site of the first Fort San Marcos.[7][8]

The site is one of unparalleled importance in the early colonial history of North America and South Carolina, exemplifying the early competition for control of the region. Finds at the site also include the only known early Spanish pottery kiln on the continent. Since the area was never developed agriculturally, even surface-level remains continue to be found.[7]

See also

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site

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The Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site is a archaeological site located on Parris Island in , encompassing the remnants of the 16th-century French fort of Charlesfort (established 1562) and the overlying Spanish colonial capital of Santa Elena (1566–1587), which served as the headquarters of La Florida during a pivotal era of European rivalry and early settlement in . In 1562, French Huguenot explorer established Charlesfort as part of France's efforts to colonize the southeastern coast, constructing a timber fort and settling with about 26 men; however, supply shortages, internal conflicts, and hostility from local Native American groups led to its abandonment by 1563, with survivors resorting to before rescue. The site was later claimed by Spanish forces under in 1566, who renamed it Santa Elena and developed it into a planned with a central plaza, over 60 houses, and a peak population of around 450 Europeans and Africans by the 1570s. Santa Elena faced repeated challenges, including destruction by Native American forces under the Guale chief in 1576, prompting a temporary relocation to St. Augustine; it was rebuilt in 1577 with Fort San Marcos but was permanently abandoned in 1587 amid ongoing conflicts and shifting Spanish priorities, after which the colony consolidated in . The Spanish erected multiple fortifications at the site, including Fort San Salvador (1566), Fort San Felipe (built atop Charlesfort ruins in 1566), and Fort San Marcos (1580s), which protected the capital and facilitated missionary activities among the and peoples. Archaeological investigations began in the mid-19th century but gained rigor in the 1970s under the University of South Carolina's Institute of and , revealing Charlesfort's foundations beneath the Spanish forts through surveys, , and excavations that uncovered less than 5% of the site, including a unique Spanish pottery , domestic wells with preserved organics, weapons, and Native American trade goods. Designated a in 2001, the site provides critical evidence of the earliest planned European urban occupation in the present-day , predating English settlements like Roanoke and Jamestown, and highlights intercultural dynamics in colonial expansion.

Site Overview

Location and Environment

The Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site is situated at the northern end of Parris Island in (32°18′23″N 80°40′19″W), within the Port Royal Sound estuary. This coastal position places the site amid a dynamic estuarine system, where freshwater from inland rivers mixes with saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean, forming a rich ecological zone approximately six miles south of downtown Beaufort. The island itself is low-lying, surrounded by expansive tidal marshes and serpentine creeks that characterize the region of the southeastern U.S. coast. The surrounding environment features a subtropical coastal landscape, including dense maritime forests dominated by live oaks (Quercus virginiana) and southern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana), interspersed with palmettos and other salt-tolerant vegetation. These forests transition into vast salt marshes, which cover significant portions of the estuary and support diverse wetland ecosystems. The site benefits from direct access to the Atlantic Ocean via Port Royal Sound, a deep-water inlet that facilitated maritime navigation. The climate is mild and humid subtropical, with average annual temperatures around 65°F (18°C), high humidity, and regular rainfall exceeding 50 inches (127 cm) per year; however, the region is vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms, as evidenced by historical shipwrecks in the sound during the 16th century. Natural resources in this area were pivotal for early habitation, offering abundant such as oysters, clams, , and , which thrived in the nutrient-rich estuarine waters. Timber from the and cedar forests provided essential materials for construction and fuel, while the fertile alluvial soils along the marshes supported limited , including crops like corn and introduced such as and squash. The site's strategic maritime position at the mouth of the sound enhanced its value for and routes connecting the to . In the , the site lies within the boundaries of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, an active U.S. military installation that encompasses much of the island and continues to manage its natural resources amid ongoing challenges like sea-level rise and . Public access requires and entry through the base; the Parris Island Museum offers interpretive exhibits and guided tours. It was designated a on January 3, 2001, recognizing its preserved archaeological integrity beneath surface-level recreational facilities.

Historical Significance

The Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site represents one of the earliest sustained European colonial efforts in the present-day , outside of , where the French established Charlesfort in 1562 before the Spanish founded Santa Elena in 1566, transforming it into the capital of La until its abandonment in 1587. This site served as the administrative and military hub for Spanish expansion along the southeastern coast, facilitating governance over a vast territory that included much of the modern . Its establishment marked a pivotal shift in European presence, predating well-known English colonies such as Roanoke (1585), Jamestown (1607), and Plymouth (1620), and underscoring the site's role in the initial phases of permanent colonization north of . The site symbolizes the intense Franco-Spanish rivalry that defined early competition, as the French attempt at Charlesfort prompted a decisive Spanish response, including the massacre at and subsequent occupation of the area to assert dominance. This conflict highlighted broader struggles for territorial control, resources, and prestige, with Spain's victory securing La Florida against French incursions and establishing a precedent for European power dynamics in . Interculturally, the site was a nexus of interactions among Europeans, Native American groups like the (including the Orista and peoples), and early African individuals brought as slaves or laborers, fostering complex exchanges that shaped colonial society and introduced elements of to the region well before widespread . These encounters, often tense due to resource disputes and cultural clashes, influenced Native-European relations across the Southeast. The site's broader legacy includes contributions to the mapping of the southeastern U.S. coast through expeditions launched from Santa Elena, which provided critical geographical knowledge that later informed European explorations and deterred immediate English encroachments. This knowledge indirectly influenced subsequent English ventures by highlighting Spanish vulnerabilities and coastal features. In terms of preservation, a 1926 monument initially commemorated the French Charlesfort but has since been reframed to honor the site's joint Franco-Spanish heritage, with formal recognition as a in 2001 emphasizing its enduring historical value.

French Settlement

Establishment of Charlesfort

In 1562, Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, a prominent Huguenot leader in the French court, sponsored an expedition to establish a Protestant colony in the as a refuge from in and to challenge Spanish Catholic dominance in the . He appointed naval captain to lead the venture, which departed from in February with two ships carrying approximately 150 men, primarily soldiers and artisans. The expedition aimed to secure a foothold along the southeastern coast of , exploring potential sites for settlement while planting markers of French claim. Ribault's fleet first sighted land near the St. Johns River in present-day Florida in late April 1562 before sailing northward, arriving at Port Royal Sound on May 1. Recognizing the site's strategic advantages—a deep natural harbor suitable for large vessels and elevated terrain offering defensibility against potential threats—the group selected Parris Island for their outpost. Over the following weeks, the men constructed a triangular wooden fort using local timber, palisades, and earthworks, arming it with cannons from the ships; it was named Charlesfort in honor of the young French king, Charles IX. The fort's design emphasized rapid assembly and basic protection for a temporary garrison rather than long-term habitation. Upon completion, Ribault left a small contingent of 26 soldiers under the command of Captain Albert de la Pierria to hold the site, while the majority of the expedition returned for reinforcements and additional . This group consisted solely of military personnel and a few skilled workers, with no women or families included, reflecting the outpost's initial role as an exploratory base rather than a full . Early interactions with the local and Orista Indians were cordial; the natives provided fish, fruits, and guidance in exchange for European goods like mirrors and hatchets, aiding the French in adapting to the local environment.

Daily Life and Abandonment

The daily life of the French colonists at Charlesfort revolved around basic survival activities in the temperate coastal environment of Sound. The settlers engaged in and for local , such as deer, turkeys, and birds, while also gathering oysters and clams from the abundant waterways. Basic farming efforts were minimal, as the group anticipated resupply from rather than long-term self-sufficiency. Initially, they relied heavily on aid from nearby Native American groups, including the chiefs Audusta, Ouade, and Couexis, who provided food and facilitated . However, by late 1562, dwindling supplies strained these relations, leading the Natives to withdraw support as the French overextended their demands, fostering that exacerbated the colony's isolation. Following Jean Ribault's departure in October 1562 to seek reinforcements in , command fell to the experienced Captain Albert de la Pierria, whose harsh leadership intensified internal strife. Pierria imposed severe discipline, including the hanging of a for minor infractions and the banishment of a named La Chère to a nearby island, which provoked widespread resentment among the roughly 26 remaining men. This tyranny culminated in a , during which the mutineers executed Pierria and rescued La Chère, installing Nicolas Barre as the new leader. Food shortages worsened the crisis, with a fire destroying the storehouse and reducing rations to mere grains of corn per day; relations with the Natives turned openly hostile as the colonists resorted to desperate foraging, further alienating potential allies. By early 1563, after less than a year of occupation, the settlers abandoned Charlesfort amid insurmountable hardships, constructing a makeshift pinnace from local timber, caulked with pine resin and , and fitted with sails made from shirts and bedding, with assistance from local Native Americans. The vessel, crewed by about 24 men, embarked on a grueling 3,500-mile voyage to France but faltered after only 86 miles in three weeks, plagued by calms, leaks, and storms that forced the desperate group to drink seawater and, in a horrific turn, resort to after killing and consuming La Chère. The journey ultimately failed, with the pinnace wrecking off the Irish coast; most survivors were rescued by an English ship and taken to Queen Elizabeth I, where some were treated as guests due to the presence of a French-speaking crew member, while others joined English service or faced imprisonment. One colonist, Guillaume Rouffi, remained behind at Charlesfort and was later captured by the Spanish. The swift collapse of Charlesfort discouraged further immediate French colonial ambitions in the region, as the ordeal highlighted the perils of inadequate provisioning and internal discord in remote outposts. It also alerted Spanish authorities to the French presence in La Florida, prompting heightened vigilance and eventual countermeasures against Protestant incursions.

Spanish Colonization

Founding of Santa Elena

In response to the French establishment and subsequent abandonment of Charlesfort on Parris Island in 1562–1563, Spanish forces under sought to assert control over the following his founding of St. Augustine in 1565. arrived at the site in April 1566 with an initial contingent of approximately 100 soldiers, marking the beginning of Spanish colonization efforts in what would become the northernmost settlement of La . This expedition was part of a broader royal mandate from King Philip II to secure the territory against European rivals and facilitate the conversion of Native American populations. Menéndez renamed the location Santa Elena in honor of , the mother of Constantine, and oversaw the construction of the initial Fort San Salvador, followed by the primary defensive structure, Fort San Felipe, directly atop the ruins of the former French Charlesfort. The fort was built using wooden palisades for the walls and earthworks for ramparts, providing a defensive structure suitable for the coastal environment. Additional infrastructure included basic housing and facilities to support the settlers, establishing the core of the new outpost. By the 1570s, the population of Santa Elena had grown to around 450 residents, comprising soldiers for defense, civilian families for sustainability, Franciscan and Jesuit clergy for missionary work among the and peoples, and support for inland missions. The settlers introduced European agricultural practices, including the raising of cattle and cultivation of crops such as wheat, alongside local staples like corn to bolster food supplies. Administratively, Santa Elena functioned as the capital of La Florida during this period, serving as the hub for governing inland missions, coordinating trade routes, and directing colonial expansion efforts. Early interactions with the local people involved forging alliances through treaties that secured labor for and guidance for in exchange for protection and goods. These agreements, negotiated by Menéndez and his successors, aimed to integrate Native labor into the settlement's operations while mitigating immediate hostilities.

Fortifications and Expansion

Following the initial of Santa Elena in 1566, the Spanish constructed a sequence of five forts to secure the settlement against potential threats. The first, Fort San Salvador, was built in early 1566 but soon abandoned, with its exact location unknown. Fort San Felipe I followed in August 1566, erected directly over the ruins of the French Charlesfort using wood palisades and surrounded by a ; it served until it was burned in 1570. In response, Fort San Felipe II was constructed nearby from 1570 to 1576, featuring wooden walls, a , and a for enhanced , but it too was destroyed by fire in 1576. Possible temporary fortifications may have existed between these phases, though archaeological evidence remains limited. The town of Santa Elena developed around a central plaza in a formal grid layout of approximately , adhering to Spanish colonial planning principles outlined in the . This included residential houses, a church, and the governor's residence clustered near the plaza, with expansions incorporating warehouses for storage and gardens for cultivation. By the early 1570s, the settlement had grown to about 40 houses, later expanding to around 60 structures to accommodate increasing needs. After the 1576 evacuation prompted by destruction of Fort San Felipe II, Pedro Menéndez Márquez—the nephew and adopted son of —reoccupied Santa Elena in October 1577 under orders from the Spanish crown, rebuilding the town and initiating a new phase of fortification. The reoccupation brought a population of roughly 200 settlers and soldiers, supported by prefabricated materials shipped from St. Augustine. Economic activities during this period centered on subsistence farming of crops like corn, beans, and squash, adapted from Native American practices, alongside limited ranching of such as pigs and . Expeditions for pearl diving along the Georgia coast provided occasional resources, while regular with supplied essentials like , lentils, and household goods to offset poor local and shortages. From 1577 to 1580, Fort San Marcos I was erected as an advanced defensive structure, featuring wooden palisades, , storerooms, and a triangular platform armed with 11 cannons, completed in just six days using prefabricated timbers. This fort, partially overlapping earlier sites in the 1570s planning phase, was identified archaeologically in through techniques including and magnetic gradiometry on what is now a former at the site.

Conflicts and Challenges

The Spanish settlement at Santa Elena faced significant military tensions from local Native American groups, culminating in the 1576 Guale rebellion. In July of that year, warriors from the , Orista, and Escamazu tribes launched coordinated attacks, burning the town and Fort San Felipe I in response to Spanish exploitation of native labor and resources. Specific incidents included the killing of Captain Alonso de Solís and his eight-man patrol, the massacre of Pedro Menéndez the Younger along with treasury officials near , and the deaths of Hernando de Moyano and 21 soldiers at Escamazu while seizing native corn supplies. These actions resulted in at least 30 Spanish deaths and forced a temporary evacuation of survivors to St. Augustine, leaving the site in ruins until reconstruction efforts began the following year. Tensions persisted into 1580, when an assault by approximately 2,000 Native Americans, primarily from the groups in the vicinity, targeted the newly built Fort San Marcos II. The Spanish defenders, under strengthened fortifications, successfully repelled the attackers, though the engagement inflicted heavy casualties on both sides and underscored the ongoing vulnerability of the outpost. This incident highlighted the fragile security of Santa Elena amid broader regional hostilities. External threats compounded these native conflicts, including repeated incursions by French privateers seeking to challenge Spanish dominance in the region. In 1576, the French ship Le Prince, commanded by Nicolas de Strozzi, wrecked near Santa Elena, and survivors briefly allied with local natives before being driven off by Spanish forces in 1577. Additionally, European-introduced diseases devastated native populations, with epidemics—possibly in 1571 and another severe outbreak in 1582—reducing indigenous communities and exacerbating social instability around the settlement. Internally, the colony grappled with chronic supply shortages, as provisions from often arrived irregularly, forcing settlers to rely heavily on native resources through tribute and foraging, which further strained relations. Leadership transitions added to these challenges; after Pedro Menéndez de Avilés's death in 1574, interim governors like Hernando de Miranda oversaw the 1576 evacuation, while Pedro Menéndez Márquez assumed control in 1577, implementing harsh measures to reassert control and rebuild defenses. The English emerged as a growing external pressure by the mid-1580s, with Sir Francis Drake's 1586 raid on St. Augustine—where he burned the town and looted supplies—creating indirect strain on Santa Elena by diverting Spanish resources and heightening fears of further incursions. This event amplified the settlement's isolation and contributed to strategic reevaluations of its defensibility.

Decline and Aftermath

Native American Relations

The people, a confederation of tribes including the Orista and Escamacu, were the primary indigenous inhabitants around the Santa Elena site, providing initial hospitality to Spanish settlers through food supplies and labor in the 1560s. Early interactions involved alliances where the Cusabo offered support, such as guiding expeditions and contributing to construction efforts, in exchange for protection against rival groups like the . However, relations deteriorated due to land encroachment by expanding Spanish settlements and devastating epidemics, including a outbreak in 1571 that severely reduced native populations. Spanish missionary efforts among the and neighboring groups began with in 1569, who established outposts like one at Escamazu but faced failure due to cultural clashes and native resistance to forced conversions. later took over in the 1570s, achieving some success in the territory to the north by converting local chiefs and their families, leading to the founding of missions such as Santa Catalina around 1576. These missions aimed to create reducciones—centralized native communities for —but often exacerbated tensions through demands for tribute and labor. Between 1576 and 1580, coordinated uprisings by the (particularly Orista and Escamacu) and from present-day Georgia targeted Santa Elena, driven by overwork in Spanish fields, cultural disruptions from impositions, and enforced systems. In 1576, natives from Orista and Escamacu burned the settlement with an estimated force of around 2,000 warriors, some using acquired European weapons, forcing a temporary Spanish evacuation, while another major assault occurred in 1580. These revolts highlighted the growing native adoption of Spanish tactics amid widespread discontent. In the aftermath, Spanish authorities enforced relocations of surviving groups to mission villages or labor sites. The population, estimated in the thousands prior to contact, declined dramatically due to ongoing epidemics, warfare, and exploitation, with further reductions leading to their dispersal and assimilation into other groups by the . Archaeological findings at the site, including mixtures of Cusabo pottery with European trade goods like glass beads and metal tools, indicate ongoing cultural exchanges despite the conflicts.

Final Abandonment

In 1587, following the devastating raid by English privateer Sir Francis Drake on St. Augustine in 1586, which exposed the vulnerabilities of Spain's northern outposts, King Philip II ordered the consolidation of colonial resources to strengthen defenses at the southern capital. Governor Menéndez Márquez, acting on these directives, arrived at Santa Elena in and decided to evacuate the settlement entirely, relocating its approximately 150 remaining residents—primarily soldiers and their families—to St. Augustine due to the site's unsustainable fortifications and ongoing threats. The evacuation process involved systematic dismantling of usable materials from Fort San Marcos and other structures, with much of the timber and hardware transported south to aid in reinforcing St. Augustine. To prevent the site from falling into enemy hands, Menéndez Márquez ordered the burning of the town's remaining buildings, effectively razing Santa Elena on August 16. This strategic withdrawal marked the end of Spanish occupation at the site, which briefly reverted to control by local Native American groups before being fully abandoned. In the immediate aftermath, the Spanish made no attempts to return, redirecting all efforts toward securing St. Augustine as the primary hub of La Florida. Over the long term, the abandonment shifted the center of Spanish colonial activity southward, reducing presence in the Carolina region and inadvertently facilitating English colonization efforts there in the following century. The site's obscurity persisted into the 19th century, when archaeologists and explorers often misattributed ruins on Parris Island—such as those of Fort San Marcos—to the earlier French Charlesfort or confused them with remnants near Port Royal Sound, delaying accurate identification until later scholarly work.

Archaeological Investigations

Early Discoveries

In the 19th century, the Charlesfort-Santa Elena site on Parris Island, South Carolina, was primarily utilized for plantation agriculture, with the land cleared and farmed for crops such as cotton and rice, leading to significant erosion that gradually exposed underlying ruins. Local residents and landowners noted these remnants as an "old fort," attributing them to early European colonial efforts without systematic investigation. Amateur explorations began in the 1850s, when Dr. R. E. Elliott and his son conducted informal digs into the earthen ramparts, uncovering artifacts including gate posts, hinges, nails, and fragments of china, which they linked to the French Charlesfort based on historical illustrations by Jacques Le Moyne. These early efforts, often involving enslaved laborers, highlighted the site's potential historical significance but were limited by a lack of professional methodology and a prevailing misconception that the ruins were solely French in origin. Antiquarian interest intensified from the 1880s through the 1920s, spurred by growing awareness of 16th-century colonial history in the region, though interpretations remained erroneous. In 1917, during preparations, U.S. Marine Corps activities leveled nearby earthen mounds and disturbed a area, inadvertently revealing additional artifacts that fueled local curiosity. A pivotal amateur excavation occurred in 1923, led by Major George H. Osterhout of the Marine Corps, who uncovered a wooden , features, and shards, proclaiming the site as the French Charlesfort based on its alignment with historical accounts. This interpretation prompted the Huguenot Society of America, in collaboration with the U.S. Congress, to erect a monument in 1926 commemorating Jean Ribault's 1562 French settlement, solidifying the site's association with Huguenot history despite emerging doubts from scholars like Mary Ross and A. S. Salley Jr., who began arguing for a Spanish Santa Elena identification in the mid-1920s. Systematic archaeological work commenced in the late 1950s and 1960s, shifting focus from antiquarian speculation to evidence-based analysis, with key contributions from archaeologist Stanley South and collaborators. In 1957, historian Albert Manucy examined Osterhout's artifacts and identified them as Spanish, challenging the French-only narrative. South's excavations during this period, including sample squares at the site, revealed Spanish majolica pottery, confirming the primary association with Santa Elena and its fortifications rather than solely Charlesfort. Initial findings included tabby foundations—structures made from oyster shell mortar—along with cannonballs and other military debris, indicating multiple phases of 16th-century occupation by both French and Spanish forces, though the scope was constrained by the site's location on an active U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot. These early professional digs faced substantial challenges due to the site's context, where exercises and development, such as a overlaying parts of the ruins, frequently disturbed archaeological layers and limited access for researchers. Preservation efforts were hampered by ongoing base activities, which eroded contexts and scattered artifacts, yet the restricted environment paradoxically protected some subsurface remains from further agricultural damage. Despite these obstacles, the 1959–1960s work laid the groundwork for recognizing the site's complex history of overlapping colonial occupations.

Modern Excavations and Findings

Modern archaeological investigations at the Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site began in 1979 under the leadership of the Institute of Archaeology and (SCIAA), with Stanley South identifying the core remains of the Spanish capital of Santa Elena. These efforts have employed non-invasive methods such as geophysical surveys, including magnetic gradiometry, (GPR), and electrical resistivity, alongside targeted excavations and testing to map subsurface features while minimizing disturbance to the site. Ongoing work since 1979, involving collaboration between SCIAA archaeologists like Chester DePratter and researchers from the , has prioritized preservation, with no full-scale excavation due to the site's status as a on active military land. Recent studies as of 2025 include analysis of World War I-era Marine Corps disturbances and a 2021 exhibit at the Beaufort History Museum highlighting Santa Elena's significance. Key discoveries include French pottery sherds unearthed in 1982 within the footprint of the first Spanish fort, confirming the location of Charlesfort beneath later Spanish structures; these sherds, including French , were initially misattributed but reanalysis linked them directly to the 1562–1563 French occupation. Excavations have delineated outlines of Spanish fortifications, such as Fort San Felipe II and Fort San Marcos II, along with structural remains like an intact barrel well used as a trash deposit, posthole patterns indicating house foundations, and evidence of a church associated with the colonial settlement. In 2016, GPR surveys identified the long-elusive Fort San Marcos (I), constructed in 1577, with its triangular layout precisely matching historical descriptions from Spanish records. Recovered artifacts highlight the site's multicultural character, including Spanish majolica ceramics and olive jars representing elite and storage vessels, iron weapons such as pike points, balls, and cannonballs, and Native American tools like Chicora and St. Johns sherds alongside pipe fragments. Faunal and botanical remains provide insights into daily diet, dominated by local fish species such as , sheepshead, , and mullet, supplemented by kernels, beans, and limited introductions like pigs and chickens. Interpretations from these findings have revealed the planned town layout of Santa Elena, featuring organized blocks, streets, a central plaza, and integrated Native American features like potential council houses, underscoring a blended European-Indigenous society. The site's complexity is further evidenced by remnants of at least six successive forts across French and Spanish phases, filling critical gaps in sparse written records and illuminating 16th-century colonial dynamics in La Florida.

References

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  23. https://www.museumoffloridahistory.com/explore/exhibits/permanent-exhibits/la-florida/forever-changed-phase-2/the-first-spanish-period/
  24. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1184&context=archanth_books
  25. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/10/2/248
  26. https://sc.edu/uofsc/posts/2016/07/chester_depratter_fort_san_marcos_discovery.php
  27. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1051&context=masterstheses
  28. https://www.jstor.org/stable/45409320
  29. https://accessgenealogy.com/south-carolina/cusabo-indian-tribe.htm
  30. https://www.ccpl.org/charleston-time-machine/first-people-south-carolina-lowcountry
  31. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/sponsored/uncover-the-surprising-history-of-hilton-head-islands-16th-century-capital-180984097/
  32. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1157&context=archanth_books
  33. https://www.coastaldiscovery.org/santa-elena/history/
  34. https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NHLS/text/74001822.pdf
  35. https://www.coastaldiscovery.org/santa-elena/archeology/
  36. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X16303376
  37. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160726095133.htm
  38. https://news.uga.edu/archaeologists-santa-elena/
  39. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1403&context=sciaa_staffpub
  40. https://yourislandnews.com/beaufort-history-museum-opens-santa-elena-exhibit/
  41. https://archive.archaeology.org/9609/newsbriefs/charlesfort.html
  42. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1179&context=archanth_books
  43. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43487513
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