The ruins of two slave cabins on the South Carolina coast have been saved after crews removed trees whose roots cracked the structures thought to be 200 years old.
The Island Packet of Hilton Head reports the rare tabby ruins on Daufuskie Island were saved when workers removed four large hackberry trees Wednesday.
Tabby is a mix of oyster shells, lime, sand and water once commonly used for building on the sea islands. Tabby retains moisture and the tree roots grew into the ruins.
The structures are among the ruins of four slave dwellings near the Haig Point landing on the island near Hilton Head.
The crew from Bartlett Tree Experts brought in a 45-ton crane by barge and donated the work estimated at $15,000 in value.
