"Andersonville all over again": Archaeology of Confederate POWs at Camp Lawton, Georgia
Dr. Lance Greene from Wright State University discusses excavations at the Civil War era Camp Lawton site in Georgia that revealed many of the hardships faced by the POWs.
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"Andersonville all over again": Archaeology of Confederate POWs at Camp Lawton, Georgia
The final presentation in the AIA/SunWatch Winter 2017 Lecture Series: The Archaeology of Confinement presented by Dr. Lance Greene from Wright State University.
The American Civil War was a grim war of retaliation. Both sides practiced violent reprisals against perceived wrongdoing by the other side. In no case were these acts more violent and widespread than with prisoners of war. The Confederate POW camp site of Camp Lawton is located in southern Georgia. Built to relieve overcrowding at Camp Sumter, more infamously known as Andersonville, Camp Lawton was constructed during the summer of 1864. Holding over 10,000 Union prisoners, it was abandoned hurriedly in November 1864 in response to Sherman’s “March to the Sea” and the prisoners were scattered in makeshift camps all over southern Georgia. Recent archaeological investigations at Camp Lawton have focused on the prison “pen”, a massive stockade encompassing over 40 acres. Excavations, which identified prisoners’ huts, brick ovens, and other features used by the POWs, have revealed many of the hardships and grim realities faced by them.
Thanks to the Archaeological Institute of America and the generosity of an anonymous donor, admission to the 2017 The Archaeology of Confinement presentation series is free and open to the public. Regular admission fees apply for guests who wish to visit the museum and village before or after each presentation. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Pastries will be provided; guests are welcome to bring a beverage.
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