2014 Eastern Shore Field School

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.

Survey Opportunity at Kittiewan May 11

In preparation for a selective harvest of timber at the ASV's Kittiewan Plantation (Charles City County), Patrick O'Neill is undertaking systematic test pitting to determine the presence of archaeological sites.  This will aid in the planning for the timber harvest, signaling areas to avoid.  This is standard practice and offers Certification students an opportunity to get in hours toward the survey requirement.

Patrick is planning to test at Kittiewan THIS SATURDAY (May 11) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. UNLESS IT IS RAINING. Contact Patrick O'Neill for details ASAP if you're intested in participating. There will be additional opportunities announced in June.

Artifact Processing and Dig Day

The Fairfield Foundation will host an artifact washing and processing day to work with the Henry Clay Birthplace material on Friday, May 17th.  This will be held at the Rosewell Visitor Center. Dave Brown, Thane Harpole, their staff and volunteers hope to wash the artifacts from the 2011 excavations at the birthplace of Henry Clay, prominent American icon and political figure who frequently used his homestead as a point of reference for his beliefs and character.  Their hope is to find out the initial answers to questions such as "when did the house burn?", "are there intact layers around the house and when do they date to?", and "are there layers of note that date specifically to Clay's childhood?"  The fieldwork and research undertaken by the ASV with guidance from Patrick O'Neill and a band of merry men and women helped identify some initial conclusions, but the lab processing is a necessary step on the journey toward report analysis and publication.  This work will count toward the laboratory hours requirement  


There will also be a dig day at Fairfield Plantation the day after - Saturday, May 18th.  At Fairfield, they continue the strategy of sampling the plowzone surrounding the manor house and further analysis of the plantation landscape that includes one of the earliest designed landscapes in Virginia (late 17th century).  The material culture typically recovered includes prehistoric material of the Archaic and Woodland periods (albeit a small percentage), as well as a variety of material from the 17th-19th centuries which would provide a great introduction to the archaeology of this period in Eastern Virginia. The focus of the May 18th work is test unit excavation, site maintenance, and some possible work with the transit.  They are interested in giving a lecture at lunch time that would cover either anthropological archaeology or laws/ethics, depending on the demand (this can happen on either day - Friday or Saturday).  The field work will count toward the survey hours requirement and will also provide the opportunity for instruction on site organization and transit work (two field skills). 

Please contact Dave or Thane directly to let them know your interest.  They need to plan ahead, so your communication with them is important.

Thanks, Carole and Bruce

Survey at Middle Peninsula State Park March 19-20

Photo: http://www.virginiaoutdoors.com

Dave Brown and Thane Harpole of the Fairfield Foundation (http://www.fairfieldfoundation.org/) have yet another Certification Program activity planned:

On Tuesday and Wednesday, March 19th and 20th, from 9am to 4pm, the Fairfield Foundation and Middle Peninsula Chapter ASV will be digging shovel test pits on part of the future Middle Peninsula State Park near the
Rosewell Visitor Center in Gloucester County. This work continues the shovel testing in the field and into the woods, extending from where last year's work stopped, in an effort to help the folks planning the park avoid any
significant archaeological resources.  The testing counts toward the archaeological survey requirement.  

They report that this has been a great experience the past two years, and they hope to continue that. They invite Certification students to attend.  They are prepared with other activities that count toward requirements, in case of
inclement weather:  lab work in the refurbished Rosewell Visitors' Center.   

Contact Dave and Thane at Fairfield@inna.net to sign up.

Eastern Shore Field School, April 17-24

VDHR-ASV-USFS are pleased to announce a Certification Program field school on the Eastern Shore, April 17-24. Sea level rise and the increased frequency of intense storms along the Atlantic Coast are not only impacting modern communities -- they are resulting in the loss of shoreline and coastal archaeological sites. VDHR's Threatened Sites Program has identified this as a high priority problem that needs the attention of the archaeological community.

The field school, which includes opportunities for survey and excavation, will take place at locations in Northampton and Accomack counties. Directed by Mike Barber (VDHR) and Mike Madden (USFS), this 8-day opportunity will provide a first-had look at fascinating archaeological resources as well as training in the documentation and testing of sites that may be lost to us in the near future. Applications are due April 1. Contact Mike Barber for more details.

Last Day of Excavation at Kittiewan 2012

Bruce Baker and Martha Williams are directing the final 2012 excavation day at Kittiewan this Saturday (November 17), 10 a.m.-3 p.m. They will complete the third 5' x 5' unit and backfill the units. This project counts toward the historic excavation requirement. Please contact Martha Williams or Bruce Baker if you are interested.

UPDATE: CANCELLED- White House Farm Archaeological Field School

Page County, Virginia

November 17-19, 2012

UPDATE 11/13/12: Unfortunately due to the forecast of rain and high temps in the 40s, this event is cancelled. Stay tuned for opportunities in the spring.



White House Farm Fdn.

Background

The White House, located along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River five miles west of Luray, is one of the Shenandoah Valley’s most recognized landmarks.  Constructed around 1760 by Mennonite minister Martin Kauffman as a dwelling and meeting house, the Rhenish stone structure dates to the era of the original Massanutten Settlement and was part of the Hamburg community that is today remembered only as a name on the map.