Stallings Island is an archeological site with shell mounds, located in the Savannah River near Augusta, Georgia, and the namesake for the Stallings culture of the Late Archaic period and for Stallings fiber-tempered pottery, the oldest pottery in North America.
Stallings Island was identified as an archaeological site in 1861, and has been the subject of several scientific excavations, as well as extensive unauthorized looting. The island was acquired by the Archaeological Conservancy in 1998. Stallings Island was occupied from about 4600 to about 4000 radiocarbon years before present (rcybp), and again from about 3800 rcybp to 3400 rcybp. The site was occupied during the first period by people of the Paris Island (ca. 4500-4200 rcybp) and Mill Branch (ca. 4200-3800 rcybp) phases, pre-ceramic traditions that harvested large numbers of freshwater mussels. During the second period the site was occupied by people of the Classic Stallings culture, who used decorated pottery. The earliest, undecorated, Stallings ceramics first appeared at other sites while Stallings Island itself was unoccupied.
The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Stallings Island Middle School in Martinez, GA was named after this site.
Famous quotes containing the words stallings and/or island:
“That poor little thing was a good woman, Judge. But she just sort of let life get the upper hand. She was born here and she wanted to be buried here. I promised her on her deathbed she’d have a funeral in a church with flowers. And the sun streamin’ through a pretty window on her coffin. And a hearse with plumes and some hacks. And a preacher to read the Bible. And folks there in church to pray for her soul.”
—Laurence Stallings (1804–1968)
“That island of England breeds very valiant creatures; their
mastiffs are of unmatchable courage.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)