ABSTRACT
Cultural groups “socially construct landscapes as reflections of themselves” where the “social, cultural, and natural environments are meshed and become part of the shared symbols and beliefs of members of the groups”. Therefore, culturally influenced changes to the natural environment have unique meanings specific to a cultural group. Scholarly documentation of the use of dendrochronology in the preservation of North American historic sites is not common. An internet and literature search did reveal notable examples. Dendroarchaeology of slave-related buildings is rare. It has been used to determine if a dwelling was constructed for enslaved or free African-Americans, or if it is slave-related at all. Dendrochronology established a build date of 1843 for the Clay Hill Cabin, placing it within the era of slavery at the plantation. The Eleutherian campus landscape was a collection of structures that included the classroom and chapel building, a dormitory, a log house, and a caretaker’s house.
