The College of Charleston conducted ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scans at 106 Coming St. on Saturday to assess subsurface conditions ahead of a proposed dormitory for 1,000 students. The site, once the YWCA headquarters and believed to be an 18th-century burial ground for poor whites, orphans, and enslaved people, has sparked community concerns.
Scan Details
Dr. Scott Harris, an associate professor of geology and environmental geosciences, used a low-power GPR scanner towed behind a truck across the site’s asphalt and gravel parking lots. The three-dimensional scans can detect objects up to seven feet deep, potentially revealing grave shafts under favorable soil conditions, though not human remains directly.
Next Steps
Data processing will take about two weeks to guide future archaeological work. Three members of the college’s Community Engagement Council observed the scans, addressing prior inconclusive GPR results from before the property purchase. The investigation responds to public input via the council’s regular meetings with officials.
