Terminus Archaeological Project Receives Georgia Trust Preservation Award

By Garrett W. Silliman
The Georgia Trust honored a project conducted by Terminus Archaeological Research (TAR) with an award for demonstrating excellence in ensuring the preservation of a historic property. The award, presented at the 2013 Georgia Statewide Preservation Conference in Milledgeville, GA, recognized an archaeological investigation TAR conducted for the Vinings Historic Preservation Society (VHPS) at the Pace House property in Vinings. Each year The Georgia Trust gives its Preservation Awards to organizations and individuals that have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of historic preservation; the 2013 awards recognized 23 preservation projects throughout Georgia.
VHPS commissioned TAR to conduct the study of the Pace House property starting in 2011 with the intention of uncovering evidence about what happened there before, during, and soon after the Civil War. TAR used advanced archaeological techniques, GIS, and historic research to investigate claims concerning the site’s unique history. The property was originally named for the family of Hardy Pace, an early settler of Cobb County for whom Paces Ferry and Paces Mill were named.
Among TAR’s findings was the revelation that, contrary to local lore, this location was likely not the site of a hospital for Federal General William Tecumseh Sherman’s troops during the Civil War, or the site of the property’s original (c. 1840) structure. According to Garrett W. Silliman, owner and operator of TAR and principal investigator for the project, “The project’s overall significance lies in the idea of exploring long held beliefs about the property – the Vinings Historic Preservation Society really acted in the best interest of the resource.”
Mr. Silliman will present a public lecture about the project June 27, 2013, at the Pace House Pavilion. For more information, visit http://vinings.org/.
TAR is an Atlanta-based archaeological and historic preservation consulting firm located in Historic Grant Park. TAR incorporates different lines of inquiry and scholarship – historical, archaeological, and preservation – with a firm commitment to the preservation of our most precious national resources: the historic and archaeological sites that define us as a people. Visit www.terminusarch.com for more information.
The mission of the VHPS is to preserve the historic spirit and structures of Vinings, educate the public about local history, engage in community preservation activities, and forge long-lasting relationships with the local residents and stakeholders toward its endeavors. Visit http://vinings.org/ for more information.