Archaeological dig uncovers base of Civil War cotton gin
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – An engineering crew in Franklin has uncovered the base of a Civil War cotton gin archaeologists have been searching for since 2009.
The Tennessean (http://usat.ly/1FyQUjl ) reports crews found the limestone foundation of a cotton gin building at the historic Carter House site. Historians hope to replicate the demolished two-story building as part of a planned 20-acre park. The dig was part of a broad effort by preservation nonprofits, the city and the state to “reclaim” land where the Battle of Franklin was fought.
Workers sifted through the soil Wednesday and found whitened bullets that had apparently been dropped in the midst of battle and were embedded in the ground.
Battle of Franklin Trust CEO Eric Jacobson said finding the cotton gin is key to creating a full picture of history.
