Archaeological Field School Excavates at Former Africatown Restaurant, Boarding House
Posted on May 28, 2025
The University of South Alabama's Center for Archaeological Studies has been conducting archaeological excavations at 508 Chin Street in Africatown. This site, next to where a new Africatown Welcome Center will be built, offers an opportunity to further explore, document and honor the heritage of a neighborhood built by the survivors of the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to arrive in the United States.
These excavations are being done as part of USA’s annual archaeological field school, which trains students in excavation techniques, documentation and public archaeology, during the University's May term. The site at 508 Chin Street is of particular importance to the Africatown community. It once housed a family-run restaurant and boarding house owned by Viola Bell Stephens, a direct descendant of Clotilda survivor Ar-Zuma Livingston. According to family oral histories, the property also served as a hub for community life in the mid-20th century.
"This project is not just about finding artifacts; it’s about uncovering stories — stories of resilience, of community and of deep-rooted heritage that continue to shape Africatown today," said Professor of Anthropology Dr. Phil Carr, director of South’s Center for Archaeological Studies. "We are deeply honored to have the support and partnership of the local families, whose memories and histories are essential to this work, and to collaborate with Madison Aubey, a Ph.D. candidate at UCLA, who will make these excavations part of her doctoral dissertation."
The significance of this excavation goes beyond archaeology. For the Africatown community, it represents another step in reclaiming their narrative, preserved through oral tradition, memory and now archaeological investigation. Stephens’ family, including her descendants Tiffany Blakely and Belinda Burke, granted permission for the research, and shared their rich family heritage with the team.
This work aligns with the broader vision for Africatown’s revitalization. With the recent groundbreaking of the $5.1 million Africatown Welcome Center and the 2019 discovery of the Clotilda, interest in the community’s story has grown nationwide. The new welcome center will serve as a gateway for visitors and a point of pride for residents. Meanwhile, the research next door underscores the importance of community-based archaeology in telling the full story of Africatown.
As archaeologists excavate, they are filling historical gaps. These efforts echo the goals voiced by Africatown leaders and scholars: to tell the complete story, not just of the Clotilda, but of the people who survived it and built lives on their own terms.
USA has supported the Africatown community in preserving and interpreting its history. Dr. Kern Jackson, director of the USA African American Studies Program, continues to conduct oral histories with his students in Africatown. The archaeological fieldwork at 508 Chin Street will culminate in a community presentation and a final report to be archived at the Africatown Heritage House and with the city of Mobile.
