What We Have Learned from Archaeology at the Nathaniel Russell House; Food for Thought Lecture

The Nathaniel Russell House, completed in 1808, is one of Charleston’s most architecturally significant historic sites—renowned for its free-flying staircase, elegant Adamesque interiors, and its layered history of wealth, labor, and enslavement. While the mansion showcases the refined world of the Russell family, the former kitchen house is a space that continues to hold the stories of the enslaved Africans whose labor sustained the household and made its opulence possible.

Recent archaeological excavations (2024-2025) beneath the original 1808 floorboards of the kitchen building uncovered nearly 10,000 artifacts, revealing a vivid portrait of daily life on the property. These remnants include fine ceramics, Chinese export porcelain obtained through Russell’s international trade networks, food remains from lavish meals, cookware, tools, and the material byproducts of laundering, food preparation, and domestic service. The assemblage reflects both the extravagance of the Russell household and the constant, often invisible work performed by the enslaved cooks,…