Episode #1
Exploring South Carolina Archaeology with Chris Judge
To begin this new season, we’re exploring what archaeology can teach us about South Carolina’s past. An artifact, a piece of pottery, or even the land itself can reveal parts of history that were never written down and help us better understand the people who came before us. I had the opportunity to sit down with South Carolina State Archaeologist Chris Judge at the South Carolina State Museum. Chris has spent more than 35 years studying Native American history and archaeology across the state, and our conversation explores the stories beneath our feet, the discoveries still being made, and why preserving the past matters. Chris has such a genuine enthusiasm for this work, and I think you’ll hear throughout our conversation that archaeology is about so much more than finding old things. It is about connecting objects to stories, giving context to what was left behind, and recognizing our own responsibility for what future generations will inherit. Episode Highlights [0:54] - Beginning a new season with the stories beneath our feet and why preserving South Carolina’s history matters. [3:15] - How travel changes our perspective and helps us notice the history hiding in the places closest to home. [5:41] - Looking beyond museum displays to understand the surveying, documentation and preservation behind archaeology. [6:38] - The unexpected discovery of a 5,000-year-old Savannah River point on my own property—and all of the questions one object left behind. [8:06] - Connecting archaeology with 100 Things to Do in South Carolina Before You Die and asking who decides which places and stories are remembered. [11:41] - Meeting South Carolina State Archaeologist Chris Judge and discovering how National Geographic inspired his lifelong interest in archaeology. [13:12] - The South Carolina archaeological site that changed the trajectory of Chris’s career and became a 20-year research project. [14:26] - What a state archaeologist actually does, including maintaining records for approximately 38,000 archaeological sites across South Carolina. [16:34] - Exploring underwater archaeology, a centuries-old shipwreck, the Topper archaeological site, ancient pottery, plant research and some of the fascinating projects happening across the state. [20:40] - What modern science can reveal from ancient artifacts, including evidence left behind in the tiny crevices of stone tools. [21:23] - What happens when highways, buildings and other development projects encounter archaeological or historic sites. [23:46] - The challenges facing South Carolina archaeology, from funding and rapid development to coastal erosion and sea-level rise. [26:01] - Returning to my Savannah River point and discovering what coastal shell rings can tell us about life thousands of years ago. [26:58] - What archaeology has had to “unlearn” and why collaboration with Native American communities has become an essential part of the work. [28:51] - What should you actually do if you discover an arrowhead, pottery or another possible artifact? [31:16] - Why you should never remove archaeological artifacts from state or federal lands. [32:00] - Ground-penetrating radar, LIDAR, blood-residue analysis and the technologies changing what the next generation of archaeologists may discover. [33:11] - Chris shares one of his most recent finds—and the story it revealed about Columbia’s historic Wheeler Hill community. [34:42] - From a Spanish kiln to a pair of scissors, Chris shares memorable discoveries and how even ordinary objects can help archaeologists reconstruct a story. [36:45] - Why archaeology is not simply about finding old things, but recovering relationships between objects, places, people and generations. [37:15] - Considering the evidence we are creating today and asking what people hundreds of years from now might understand about us. [39:18] - Why preserving our own stories, memories and context may be an important part of the legacy we leave behind. [41:47] - Closing with a reminder that we have inherited only part of the story—and what happens to the chapter in our care is partly up to us. The past is all around us, and sometimes it takes slowing down and paying attention to recognize the stories that are still there. I hope this conversation encourages you to look a little closer at the places you know and think about the stories we each have a responsibility to preserve. If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow the podcast, share it with a friend, and take a moment to leave a rating and review. It truly helps more people discover the stories and voices shared here.
