While oysters are commonly found artifacts at Colonial Dorchester, they are also plentiful in the above-ground remains of the site’s historic fort. The fort is constructed from tabby, a concrete-like material made from crushed oyster shells, water, and lime. Archaeologically, oyster shell has been recovered from contexts where food was eaten, prepared, or discarded. This demonstrates that Dorchester’s residents used oysters, a relatively local resource, to meet multiple needs including construction and subsistence.

Brooker, Colin. 2020. The Shell Builders: Tabby Architecture of Beaufort, South Carolina, and the Sea Islands. University of South Carolina Press. Columbia, South Carolina.