Abstract
- The 2022 UNCW Summer Field School excavated for one month at the remains of two chimney falls located near a proposed rice mill and warehouse on Orton Plantation (31BW787**14). Over the course of the field season, we excavated hearths from two related structures, and uncovered a double hearth, Feature 3 and a single hearth, Feature 4. The structures were likely built around the time of the expansion of rice farming at Orton in the 1830s and may have been associated with the mill operators. The structures were likely occupied during and after the Civil War. At some point between 1897 and 1924, the structures were carefully cleaned out and abandoned, and both structures burnt at a very hot temperature sometime after this abandonment. The structures were not scavenged for recycled nails and building materials after the fire, an unusual circumstance in the area.