Archaeologists uncovering Magnolia slave artifacts

Before starting restoration work on several of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens' slave cabins, the owners hired Craig Hadley to dig into the past and find out more about how the slaves lived and worked.

It was a wise move.

Hadley, director of the Living History Group, has overseen a team of archaeologists and others who have spent about three months excavating areas where the plantation's slaves spent most of their time.

"All of these things tell of a story of the people who lived out here," he said. "Archaeology doesn't lie. It may be pretty obscure to read sometimes, but it doesn't lie. The things we find are telling the story of their lives."