A Possible Colonial Tavern Site in Brunswick, North Carolina

Abstract

In the late 1950's, Stanley South began archaeological excavations at Colonial Brunswick Town, a colonial port located south of modern-day Wilmington, North Carolina along the western shore of the Cape Fear River. South began his excavations at Brunswick with Lot 29 which contained Nathaniel Moore's residence and business. Unknown to him, another structure sat on the west end of Lot 29 that would alter the interpretation of Lot 29. In 2019 during an East Carolina University Archaeological summer field school, this new structure was partially excavated and interpreted as a possible colonial tavern. Historical documentation, comparisons to known tavern sites, and the application of various artifact pattern criteria were applied. These methods suggest that the structure is a colonial tavern, known as Nath Moore's Front, and dates to the mid-18th century.