The Archaeology Of 17th Century Virginia

The first domestic settlement, the Maine, is one of the earliest historic sites yet excavated in the Chesapeake region. It appears to have been occupied during the dying gasps of Virginia company control. The study of the site and artifacts shows that the Maine barely survived its first decade. Insubstantial dwellings, portable goods, and casual disposal of the dead suggest the impermanence of the settlement and lend credence to the historians' 'Boomtown' theory for the 1620s. The terminal dates of recovered artifacts show that his early 'subberb' of Jamestown expired shortly after the Indian massacre of 1622.

The book includes six chapters that cover Virginia history from initial settlement through the 20th century plus one that deals with the important role of underwater archaeology. Written by prominent archaeologists with research experience in their respective topic areas, the chapters consider important issues of Virginia history and consider how the discipline of historic archaeology has addressed them and needs to address them . Changes in research strategy over time are discussed , and recommendations are made concerning the need to recognize the diverse and often differing roles and impacts that characterized the different regions of Virginia over the course of its historic past. Significant issues in Virginia history needing greater study are identified.

This is the story of Flowerdew Hundred, the 1,000-acre plantation that Sir George Yeardley, Virginia's first governor, established on the James River between Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia.

When Great Britain colonized Virginia in 1607, the area's substantial indigenous population consisted chiefly of the Powhatan Indians, a confederation of Algonquian tribes. By the middle of the 17th century, however, most of the Indian settlements in the upper valleys of the James and Rappahannock rivers had been abandoned. By the same token, few if any Indians remained in the Virginia Piedmont as early as 1675. The purpose of this work is to offer a comprehensive summary, prior to the Indians' disappearance, of all manner of life and culture of the Algonquians and the other tribes known to have inhabited 17th-century Virginia. When John Smith arrived in Virginia in 1607, Chief Powhatan had brought under his control more than 30 Algonquian tribes. Professor McCary begins with a description of the principal tribes within the Powhatan confederation, such as the Nansemond, Pamunkey, Pissaseck, and so on. The author's primary focus thereafter is with the social organization of the indigenous population, and the topics covered are legion: village structure, housing, foods, hunting and fishing methods, tobacco cultivation and usage, ornamentation and decoration, tools, pottery and furniture, implements and weapons, methods of warfare, music and games, marriage and burial customs, crime and punishment, religious beliefs, seasons and festivals, and more. Supporting the narrative are a number of detailed line drawings made by John White, a member of the ill-fated English colony on Roanoke Island, Virginia, in 1585, an essay devoted to Virginia prehistory and archaeology, and a helpful bibliography.

New Life for Archaeological Collections explores solutions to what archaeologists are calling the “curation crisis,” that is, too much stuff with too little research, analysis, and public interpretation. This volume demonstrates how archaeologists are taking both large and small steps toward not only solving the dilemma of storage but recognizing the value of these collections through inventorying and cataloging, curation, rehousing, artifact conservation, volunteer and student efforts, and public exhibits. Essays in this volume highlight new questions and innovative uses for existing archaeological collections. Rebecca Allen and Ben Ford advance ways to make the evaluation and documentation of these collections more accessible to those inside and outside of the scholarly discipline of archaeology. Contributors to New Life for Archaeological Collections introduce readers to their research while opening new perspectives for scientists and students alike to explore the world of archaeology. These essays illuminate new connections between cultural studies and the general availability of archaeological research and information. Drawing from the experience of university professors, government agency professionals, and cultural resource managers, this volume represents a unique commentary on education, research, and the archaeological community.