Matt Knight, Historical Interpreter at Somerset Place State Historic Site, will explore the archaeological projects that have taken place at the site over the last 70 years, what they revealed about enslaved and free life at Somerset Place, and how the focus and methodology of those archaeological projects changed over time.
Situated on the northeast corner of Lake Phelps in Washington County, Somerset Place was once one of the largest and most productive plantations in antebellum North Carolina. From 1785 until 1865, Somerset’s owners enslaved at least 861 Africans and African Americans, who were forced to labor as field hands, domestic workers, and artisans on the plantation’s swampy landscape.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Museum of the Albemarle or the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.