Phase 1 Archeological Investigation
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ABSTRACT A Phase I archeological survey was conducted on the +110 acre 12th High School property (Prince William County 12th High School site) located along Dumfries Road (Route 234), approximately 1,000 feet south of the Dumfries Road/Hoadly Road (Route 642) intersection in Prince William County, Virginia. The work was carried out in June and July of 2008 by Thunderbird Archeology, a division of Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., of Gainesville, Virginia, for Ross, France and Ratliff, Ltd. of Manassas, Virginia. Five archeological sites; 44PW1823, 44PW1824, 44PW1825, 44PW1826, and 44PW1827 were found and one historic architectural resource, DHR 076-5181, was recorded. Site 44PW1824 is interpreted as a lithic scatter or temporary camp representing transient use of the area by populations during the Early Archaic (7500 B.C.-6500 B.C.) and possibly other unknown prehistoric time periods. All prehistoric artifacts were recovered from the ground surface or from the plowed horizon and intact contexts are not expected at the site. Site 44PW1824 is not considered to be potentially eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and no additional archeological work is recommended. Sites 44PW1823, 44PW1825, 44PW1826, and 44PW1827 are interpreted as lithic scatters or temporary camps representing transient use of the area by populations during unknown prehistoric time periods. All prehistoric artifacts were recovered from the plowed horizon and intact contexts are not expected at the sites. Sites 44PW1823, 44PW1825, 44PW1826, and 44PW1827 are not considered to be potentially eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and no additional archeological work is recommended. DHR 076-5181 represents an abandoned historic house and attached garage at 13833 Dumfries Road. The dwelling has no extant associated outbuildings. Prince William County real estate tax assessment records date the dwelling to 1949. It is our recommendation that 076-5181, as a not uncommon property type in Price William County, Virginia and being in generally poor condition, is not eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic places under Criterion C. Research conducted on the property history indicates that this resource is also not likely to be eligible under Criteria A and B. No additional archeological work is recommended. The Scope of Work approved by the Prince William County archeologist called for a viewshed study to document and assess the possible visual effects to resources near or within the project area that might be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. One such resource was identified, DHR 076-0474, the Geisler House, located north of the project area. An inventory of the existing quality of historic viewsheds from the Geisler House found already compromised historic vistas to the south, to the north and the west; however the historic vistas to the east and the southeast, the latter including the project area, may be considered relatively uncompromised at the present time. i ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ i TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ iii LIST OF EXHIBITS ........................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... vi LIST OF PLATES .......................................................................................................... vii INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ..................................................................................... 3 PALEOENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUND ............................................................ 6 CULTURAL HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ............................................................. 7 Prehistoric Overview .................................................................................................... 7 Historic Overview ....................................................................................................... 13 Property History ......................................................................................................... 33 Early Property History ............................................................................................. 33 Parcel 1 (GPIN 7892-52-8443) ................................................................................ 38 Parcels 3 and 7 (GPINs 7892-52-0160 and 7892-52-3149) .................................... 39 Parcel 8 (GPIN 7892-63-9714) ................................................................................ 39 Parcel 2 (GPIN 7892-52-7693) ................................................................................ 40 Parcel 4 (GPIN 7892-53-5618) ................................................................................ 40 Parcel 5 (GPIN 7892-53-8330) ................................................................................ 41 Parcel 6 (GPIN 7892-53-8849) ................................................................................ 41 Parcel 9 (GPIN 7892-63-9714) ................................................................................ 41 PREVIOUS ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCH ......................................................... 42 RESEARCH EXPECTATIONS .................................................................................... 45 FIELD AND LABORATORY METHODS ................................................................. 49 Fieldwork ..................................................................................................................... 49 Laboratory ................................................................................................................... 49 RESULTS OF FIELD INVESTIGATIONS ................................................................. 50 Area A .......................................................................................................................... 50 Resource DHR 076-5181 .......................................................................................... 53 Area B .......................................................................................................................... 58 Area C .......................................................................................................................... 62 Site 44PW1823 .......................................................................................................... 66 Area D .......................................................................................................................... 68 Site 44PW1824 .......................................................................................................... 72 Area E .......................................................................................................................... 75 Site 44PW1825 .......................................................................................................... 77 Site 44PW1826 .......................................................................................................... 81 Site 44PW1827 .......................................................................................................... 82 VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY ................................................................ 83 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................ 84 REFERENCES CITED .................................................................................................. 88 PLATES ........................................................................................................................... 97 APPENDIX I ................................................................................................................. 183 Scope of Work ........................................................................................................... 183 iii APPENDIX II ................................................................................................................ 191 Chain of Title ............................................................................................................. 191 APPENDIX III .............................................................................................................. 201 Artifact Inventory ..................................................................................................... 201 APPENDIX IV .............................................................................................................. 209 Cultural Resource Forms ......................................................................................... 209 APPENDIX V ................................................................................................................ 243 List of Qualifications................................................................................................. 243 iv LIST OF EXHIBITS Exhibit 1 : Vicinity Map Showing the Location of the Project Area …………… 2 Exhibit 2 : Portion of the U.S.G.S. 1994 Independent Hill, VA 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle Showing the Location of the Project Area ……………. 4 Exhibit 3 : October 2007 Natural Color Imagery Showing the Location