On November 11 the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust issued a press release announcing an important discovery related to the American Revolutionary War. While excavating at the site of the Battle of Camden, which took place on August 16, 1780, archaeologists from the University of South Carolina’s Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology unearthed the skeletal remains of 14 individuals who had died in that ferocious battle more than 240 years ago.
Almost all of the newly unearthed bodies belonged to men who had fought on the American side in that contest, which represented an early setback for the Patriot forces that were striving to free their fledgling country from British rule.
“These young men demonstrated their allegiance in an intense battle for liberty,” stated South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust CEO Doug Bostick. “We have a responsibility to honor their sacrifice by ensuring their remains are protected in perpetuity and their stories of bravery are shared.”
Location of the Camden Battlefield. ( South Carolina Battleground Trust )
Forensic Explorations of the American Revolution
The skeletal remains were found buried in a series of shallow graves, some just six inches below the surface of the earth. The excavations that produced this remarkable discovery began in September, and the skeletons were carefully and artfully removed from their resting places over the course of an eight-week period.
“This discovery is particularly significant to the…
