Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site, French and Spanish colonial archaeological site in Parris Island, South Carolina, US.
Charlesfort-Santa Elena is an archaeological site on Parris Island containing the remains of two European settlements established during the 1500s. The foundations of buildings, defensive works, and everyday objects recovered here provide direct evidence of early colonial life in this region.
French navigator Jean Ribault founded the first settlement in 1562, but it was abandoned within months due to supply shortages and hardship. Spanish colonists later occupied the same location and built their own settlement there, which lasted longer than the French attempt.
The site reveals how early Europeans and the region's native people first encountered each other and interacted. Artifacts found here show the daily relationships between the groups through shared tools, pottery, and trading practices.
The site is located on Parris Island and features a visitor pavilion with interpretive displays to help you understand the excavations. Plan time to walk the grounds, wear sun and weather protection appropriate for hot, humid conditions, and check ahead for any seasonal visitor programs.
A distinctive feature here is a pottery kiln from the Spanish colonial period, currently the only known surviving example of its kind in North America. This discovery provides rare insight into how the Spanish colonists produced their own ceramics and managed daily production.
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