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At least two slave houses were built for the slaves that worked in and around the Bennehan House. In 1980, archaeologists examined one of these ruins and determined that it was originally constructed of yellow pine in the mid 1800s. The cabin had a wooden plank floor, a shingle roof, a dry-laid foundation on three sides, and a large fireplace. The house measured 19' x 23'. After the 1880s, a large porch had been added. As the majority of slave housing throughout the South consisted of log structures with dirt floors, this dwelling provided a greater measure of comfort with its plank flooring. It is nevertheless important to note that it was home to between five and seven enslaved individuals. Pig, sheep, goat, chicken, and cow remains were also discovered during the archaeological investigation, revealing the types of food the slaves prepared. Interestingly, none of the animal remains showed any evidence of saw or knife marks. Rather than butchering the animals into cuts and joints, slaves cleaved open the bones and stewed them to obtain as much nutrition as possible. Archaeologists also found a cowrie shell (believed to be the only one found intact in North Carolina), and sherds of English creamware and pearlware. An 1867 nickel and an animal bone carved into a comb were also discovered.
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