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E. Randolph Turner, III and David K. Hazzard
VDHR archaeological staff met with ASV and COVA representatives in Charlottesville last spring to review Threatened Sites accomplishments over the last year and to discuss proposed projects during the upcoming year for which $72,500 will be available. Below is a compilation of all projects completed during 2004/2005 as well as a brief summary of proposed upcoming projects for 2005/2006.
PROJECTS COMPLETED IN 2004/2005
Maycock Point Site (44PG40). A multi-component site with a major Middle Woodland period and an early 17th-century period focus, Maycock Point is located approximately 20 miles southeast of Richmond on the south bank of the James River in Prince George County. First observed by C. G. Holland and Ben McCary in the late 1940s, serious excavation began in 1970 by the College of William and Mary. Additional excavation and specialized analyses have been conducted under separate institutions and independent researchers since that time and are continuing today. The collections of artifacts, soil samples, field notes, drawings, and photographic documentation are in various locations and stages of completion and preservation. In recognition of that fact and given the site's high research potential, the Threatened Sites program supported the preparation of a report summing up all work to date, condition and location of existing records and collections, and recommendations for future work. As part of this assessment funding also was committed for soil flotation of all retained samples as well as initial analyses of existing botanical and faunal samples
R. B. Worthy High School Site (44SM25). This Native American village site contained features from both the Middle and Late Woodland periods. It was mostly destroyed during the construction of the high school and from looting in advance of, and at the time of, that construction. It is located in the town of Saltville in Smyth County. Specialized analysis was conducted on over 3,000 animal bones recovered from a recent assessment of a small surviving portion of the site. Results of the analysis are providing a glimpse into the local environmental conditions existing at the time of occupation and the dietary patterns of the occupants who lived there.
Jasper Lithic Analysis. Instrumental neutron activation analysis of jaspers from seven localities and artifacts from two different sites in Virginia were examined to identify differences that could be used to distinguish between individual sources. The results suggest that the major sources of jasper in Virginia can be differentiated from one another. Follow-up work also was made possible by separate funds from the VDHR independent of the Threatened Sites program
Steatite Analysis. Chemical analysis was completed of steatite samples from archaeological quarry sites in Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, and Grayson counties of the Virginia Blue Ridge Region. This was a continuation of the work undertaken last year and is contributing to our ability to source and trace the movement of steatite artifacts across Virginia.
Land Bay A Analysis (44FX2723). This site is one of the few unplowed upland prehistoric sites recorded in Northern Virginia. It has multiple components and exhibits excellent integrity. Fairfax County has funded an archaeologist, working with volunteers, to complete the fieldwork begun by a private firm (shortage of funds necessitated the county's involvement). Threatened Sites funding was provided to assist with the completion of analysis and report writing for this important site.
Gwynns Island (44MT71). Surface indications on a stretch of beach and in shallow water in conjunction with artifacts recovered at Gwynns Island in Mathews County indicated the presence of a colonial and multi-component Native American site. Features were mapped, two barrel wells were excavated, and what appeared to be a shell midden was tested for the presence of artifacts. An inventory also was made of the artifacts collected from this stretch of beach by local residents. The beach is now underwater.
Leigh-Stubblefield Site (44GL123). - Representing a distant component associated with Rosewell Plantation in Gloucester County, an assessments was undertaken at this site in advance of potential threats from encroaching development and increased relic collecting. Earlier collecting had considerably damaged a large pit containing a remarkable collection of well-preserved artifacts having direct association with Rosewell. The study has begun to establish boundaries of the site, has assessed the damage from relic collecting, and has documented the site's overall integrity. A catalog of all artifacts recovered from the site also has been prepared.
Hickory Neck Church (44JC124). This church, begun in 1734, is situated in James City County. Over its 270 plus years it served variously as a church, a Revolutionary War Hospital, a barracks during the Civil War, a school for nearly a century, and presently as a church again. A watercolor painted by Sneden in 1862 depicts two dwellings to the east and southeast of the church. Perspective does not allow determination whether either of those buildings was within the 10-acre parcel in this area where a new church, parking lot and ancillary building is scheduled for construction. Threatened Sites funding was used to assess this area and determine the extent that proposed construction might impact archaeological resources here.
Chesopean Site (44VB48). Containing both Native American and early 17th-century artifacts, this site was discovered on a part of Adam Thoroughgood's 1636 land grant. It currently is situated in a residential development. In 1955, Floyd Painter and R. Lloyd Updike excavated a number of "midden pits", part of a "stratum of soil" that covered the site, and a "cellar pit". The only surviving records of their work consists of a three page description, some black and white photographs, a few newspaper articles, and a collection of artifacts recovered by Painter. In advance of a proposed house addition archaeological testing documented the presence of still intact deposits which will be further examined prior to any future construction.
Hampton Goodyear Site (44HT94). As archaeological excavations at this 17th-19th century urban site in downtown commercial Hampton closed out, a late discovery was made of an archaeological feature extending under the current sidewalk. Threatened Sites assistance allowed for this final area of the site to be examined. Over the past two years, just over $5,000 seed money from the Threatened Sites program encouraged private donations for the excavations totaling over $25,000 as well as over $225,000 provided by the City of Hampton.
New Publications. Two recent departmental publications on past Threatened Sites projects include:
The Buzzard Rock Site (44RN2): A Late Woodland Dispersed Village (2005).
By Wayne E. Clark, Joey T. Moldenhauer, Michael B. Barber, and Thomas R. Whyte. VDHR Research Report Series No. 15.
The Bonham Site (44SM7): A Late Woodland Village Complex in Smyth County, Virginia (2005). By C. Clifford Boyd, Jr., Donna C. Boyd, Michael B. Gardner, and Paul S. Gardner. VDHR Research Report Series No. 16.
For ordering information and a listing of other archaeological publications available through the VDHR, check out the department's web site at
http://www.dhr.virginia.gov .
PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR 2005/2006
During the upcoming year, archaeological field investigations will be funded at Maycock Point in Prince George County, Butler's Bluff in Northampton County, Hungars Plantation in Northampton County, and a Civil War encampment in Alexandria. Also under consideration are various analysis studies from prior investigations at such sites as Maycock Point in Prince George County, the Hogue site in Tazewell County, and Germanna in Orange County. Of particular importance, the VDHR/ASV/COVA Threatened Sites Committee has place a priority on publishing both a general report for the public and a more technical series of reports on the nationally significant Jordan's Point excavations in Prince George County dating back to the 1990s. Work on both will begin during the upcoming year with a goal of having them available by 2007.
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