Fish Dam Ford Battlefield (Preserving a Long-Lost Revolutionary War Battlefield)

Conservation of Historical Resources

FISH DAM FORD BATTLEFIELD
(PRESERVING A LONG-LOST REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLEFIELD)

The Fish Dam Ford battlefield was discovered while working on a bridge replacement project over the Broad River in Chester and Union Counties.

After the discovery of the battlefield, SCDOT consulted FHWA and other experts on the next course of action to ensure the battlefield would be preserved. Federal historic mitigation rules require that such sites either be fully surveyed and excavated, or that the sites be otherwise protected from future development.  Rather than spending millions to fully excavate the affected part of the site, SCDOT recommended that the entire site be purchased and protected against future development.  This win/win solution saved the state money because the purchase price was much less than the cost of a full scale archeological excavation, and it preserved an important piece of history for future South Carolinians to enjoy.

SCDOT and the Federal Highway Administration received a 2006 South Carolina Historic Preservation Award for their efforts to protect a long-lost Revolutionary War Battlefield in Chester County.

SCDOT and FHWA  also received an Honor Award for the preservation of the Fish Dam Ford Battlefield.