Archaeological Investigations at the Pace House

Vinings Historic Preservation Society (VHPS) has engaged the services of archaeologist, Garrett W. Silliman, of Terminus Archaeological Research, to conduct research at the historic Pace House on Paces Mill Road. 

Silliman will conduct field investigations, in association with Georgia State University, using remote sensing to detect potential archaeological features and artifact signatures on the property. 

According to the VHPS website, the historic house was built with the remains of the 17-room antebellum home of Vinings founder Hardy Pace. The house served as General William T. Sherman's temporary headquarters where he planned the siege of Atlanta. Hardy's son, Solomon Pace, returned home after the Civil War to find the home in ruins.

Sometime between 1865 and 1874, Solomon painstakingly rebuilt the home—albeit more modestly—from doors, windows and remnants of several small cabins that survived the fire of the main house.

Garrett began the project two weeks ago using a magnetometer (ground penetrating radar) and he plans to excavate areas where anomalies were detected.

He will be on the Pace House property Thursday and Friday conducting his investigations and he welcomes visitors. VHPS is hoping Garrett and his team will "unearth" some interesting findings. 

If you are in the area of the Pace House and see Garrett in the yard, feel free to take a moment to stop by and speak with him.

The Pace House is on the list for National Register of Historic Places. For more information on this project, please call 770-432-3343.