Just about an hour’s drive from Daniel Island lies a land steeped in Lowcountry history, where a rice kingdom once flourished through the efforts of a large enslaved force deeply rooted in Gullah culture. Join the Daniel Island Historical Society on Tuesday, May 20, from 7-8 pm, at Church of the Holy Spirit, as they present “History Lives in the Santee Delta.” This special program will spotlight the unprecedented effort underway to document, protect, and preserve the cultural landscape of the Santee Delta, with emphasis on the African descendant experience. Guest speakers will be Santee Delta Project team members Dr. Kendy Altizer, archaeologist, and Dr. Richard Porcher, botanist and cultural historian. You’ll also discover Daniel Island’s connection to this special site.
Dr. Altizer is a Registered Professional Archaeologist with a background in Cultural Resource Management (CRM) and is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at The University of North Georgia, Dahlonega. She holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Clemson University and the College of Charleston and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Tennessee with a concentration in Historical Archaeology. Dr. Altizer has more than a decade of experience conducting archaeological survey and testing in the Santee Delta, which is her primary research focus. She has conducted archaeological research at Peachtree, Fairfield, Rochelle, White Oak, and Pine Grove plantations centered around African-American enslaved lifeways. Dr. Altizer is Principal Investigator for the archaeological aspect of the project and will oversee archaeological field surveys, artifact processing, data analysis, and archaeological report generation.
Dr. Porcher is a scholar, educator, and conservationist. As Professor Emeritus of Botany, Porcher’s distinguished teaching career at The Citadel integrated field biology into the curriculum (1970 – 2003). Dr. Porcher is the author of definitive books on South Carolina botanical and cultural resources. He has dedicated the proceeds from his books to student scholarships at Clemson University and The Citadel. Dr. Porcher is a renowned conservationist who uses his knowledge to influence regional environmental policies. He was the recipient of the 2007 South Carolina Environmentalist of the Year Award and has mentored many prominent naturalists in the Southeast. Dr. Porcher has studied rice culture extensively in the Delta for over 40 years and has contributed many books and scholarly articles on the subject matter.
This program is FREE. All are welcome.