Happy New Year to all. As we look forward to spring, let the fieldwork opportunities begin!
Excavations at 44NH0431
Eastern Shore, Northampton County, Virginia
Field Work Opportunity
May 14 – 20, 2014
Background
The
Department of Historic Resources has recognized the impacts of both sea level
rise and catastrophic storms on archaeological resources on the Atlantic Coast,
Chesapeake Bay, and the tidal sections of tributary rivers. Threatened Sites funds and volunteer programs
have been combined to provide for an Archaeological Marine Resources
Initiative. Although sites and information
will be lost, it is the goal of this program to recover as much data as
possible as the archaeological resources are impacted. The
field school program for 2014 will focus on the excavation of a site that is
under threat, 44NH0431, an eroding shell midden.
Named
“Nassawadox Creek #1” by Lowery during his 2000 archaeological survey of the
Virginia’s Bayside Eastern Shore, the site is located on an eroding bank of
Chesapeake Bay on Church Neck. Recovered
artifacts include fire-cracked rock, various shell species, a steatite bowl
fragment, bifaces, and prehistoric ceramics associated with 5 different wares
spanning the Woodland Period. The site
is being heavily impacted by wind and wave action and suffered serious damage
during Hurricane Sandy.
Field School
The
field school meets requirements for the ASV/DHR/COVA Certification Program for
excavation. Headquarters for the field school will be Kirwan Hall located ca.
5.5 miles from Eastville on the Chesapeake Bay side. Several motels are found in the environs of nearby
Exmore. In addition, arrangements have
been made for camping at Kirwan. Participants
are responsible for lodging and meals.
Lunch will not be provided at the site.
Portajohns with washstands will be available at Kirwan and the
excavation site. The field school timing
in early spring will avoid the influx of insects and the hot humid
weather. Work will begin at 8:30 am and
shut down by 4:30 pm. Excavation may
also be prone to the vagaries of the weather.
The
2014 Field School is sponsored by ASV, DHR, and USDA-Forest Service Passport in
Time in cooperation with James Madison University and Northampton County.
Application Due Date: April 1, 2014. Contact Jolene Smith for more information and an application.
