Not since Frederick Douglass wrote about Wye House has there been an empirical account of the conditions of enslaved life there. Elizabeth Pruitt uses the entry point to the past provided by archaeology to describe the creative life of African American religion, medicine, and gardening at Wye House that Douglass avoided when his mission was to describe reality in such a way that he convinced people to abolish slavery. Contemporary African American descendants want to know of their ancestors’ spirituality, African traditions, skills, and culture. This book is a view into these areas for them and us.

Mark P. Leone, University of Maryland, College Park

Elizabeth Pruitt's work at Wye House Plantation embodies the wonderful interdisciplinary nature of historical archaeology. This well-written work takes the reader from archaeology sites to archives and public history to pollen analysis, and stands as a testament to the contemporary directions of archaeological practice.

Christopher P. Barton, Francis Marion University