In 1680, colonists, who had first settled at Albemarle Point (site of present day Charles Towne Landing State Park) ten years earlier, moved to the Charleston peninsula, a more suitable location for defense and trade. They fortified the waterfront with a brick wall and surrounded the city with earthen fortifications to protect themselves from attacks by Spanish and French forces, pirates and Native Americans. Archaeological excavations in Charleston have uncovered portions of these early fortifications,, such as the section of brick parapet on display in the Lowcountry History Hall.