Artifacts from Werowocomoco, Powhatan Capital City, on View At
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DISPATCH A Newsletter of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation • Spring 2010 Artifacts From Werowocomoco, Powhatan Capital City, on View at Jamestown Settlement At the time Jamestown, America’s first permanent English colony, was founded in 1607, the center of power in coastal Virginia was about 20 miles away at Werowocomoco, principal residence of Powhatan, the region’s paramount chief. The importance of this location in Virginia Indian history and its role in early contact between Powhatan and English cultures is explored at Jamestown Settlement in “Werowocomoco: Seat of Power,” where artifacts spanning close to 10,000 years are on exhibit for the first time in a museum setting. The exhibition opened May 15 and continues through This scene shows Werowocomoco as it appears today. Bordered by the York River, Leigh November 15. Creek (left) and Bland Creek (right), the archaeological site is listed on the National Register of Archaeological research since Historic Places and Virginia Landmarks Register. 2001 at Werowocomoco, on the human presence since about 8000 Algonquian-speaking communities York River in present-day Gloucester B.C. Werowocomoco developed as in the Chesapeake Bay region after County, has revealed an intermittent a ceremonial and political center for A.D. 1200 and ultimately played an important role in the development of the Powhatan chiefdom in the 16th century. VIRGINIA INDIAN HERITAGE DAY More than 60 artifacts from Werowocomoco, including stone projectile points and tools and pottery sherds, are exhibited. A selection of archaeological objects from the collections of the Jamestown- Yorktown Foundation and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources complements the Werowocomoco material. Copper alloy fragments dating to the early 17th century offer evidence of trade between the Powhatan In conjunction with the “Werowocomoco: Seat of Power” exhibition and in and English cultures. The copper, partnership with the Virginia Indian community, Jamestown Settlement will including a rolled bead and sheets, is host Virginia Indian Heritage Day on Saturday, June 26. The event will feature of European manufacture and has a the Virginia Intertribal Drum and Dancers, in full regalia, presenting traditional chemical composition similar to copper and contemporary tribal dances. In panel discussions, tribal leaders will explore fragments found at Jamestown. Even the significance of Werowocomoco and what the site means to descendent before Europeans arrived, copper was Virginia Indian communities today. a valuable commodity in the Powhatan culture and was obtained through continued on page 2 Werowocomoco Featured in Jamestown Settlement Exhibition Among Werowocomoco artifacts on exhibit at Jamestown Settlement courtesy of Robert F. and C. Lynn Ripley are a St. Albans quartz projectile point dating to 6800-6500 B.C., a quartzite knife and Townsend pottery vessel sherd from the Late Woodland period (A.D. 900-1600), and a 17th-century copper alloy bead. continued from page 1 monumental architecture, including English established a foothold in trade with other American Indian Ely Mound in Lee County and the Virginia, Powhatan moved his capital groups. Archaeologically found glass Crab Orchard Site in Tazewell County, west to Orapax, a more protected beads, also used in trade, are exhibited both in Virginia, and Chaco Canyon, location on the Chickahominy River. near the copper. New Mexico. Representing ceremonial Although Werowocomoco remained The exhibition discusses a central practices are examples of thousand- a place of importance to Virginia idea behind the archaeological research year-old Chaco Canyon Black-on-White Indians for some time after Powhatan’s at Werowocomoco, the concept of painted pottery, including two effigy departure, the site was later occupied “cultural landscape,” understood as the vessels, and, from the Historic Crab by people of European descent. The imprint of past societies on the spaces Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park, a exhibition includes a multimedia and structures they built and modified. Late Woodland period mask made of a presentation developed by Ashley The topography of Werowocomoco bear jaw. Atkins, a member of the Pamunkey shows manmade earthworks that Held prisoner at Werowocomoco Tribe and College of William separated the community along the by Powhatan in late 1607, Captain John and Mary anthropology graduate riverfront from a location thought Smith documented his experience in student, that explores the meaning of to have been used for high-status maps and writings. In one account Werowocomoco to Virginia Indians social and ceremonial functions. many years later, he claimed it was today. Archaeologists discovered a large the place where Powhatan’s daughter “Werowocomoco: Seat of Power” structure and a large quantity of copper Pocahontas saved him from death at was developed in cooperation with fragments in this well-defined location. her father’s hand. Werowocomoco’s the site owners Robert F. and C. Werowocomoco is portrayed as location and a drawing of Powhatan Lynn Ripley, the Werowocomoco a symbol of power and authority in seated on a dais Research Group and the Virginia context with other American Indian are shown in Indian Advisory Board. College of sites that feature ceremonial spaces and the Jamestown- William and Mary Assistant Professor Yorktown of Anthropology Martin Gallivan is Foundation’s guest curator. James City County has copy of provided funding in support of this Smith’s Map special exhibition. of Virginia The Werowocomoco archaeological dating project was featured in the May 2007 to 1612, issue of National Geographic magazine the year and in a PBS/NOVA documentary, the map “Pocahontas Revealed.” A three- was first minute video based on the exhibition published. theme, produced in partnership with About WCVE Community Idea Stations, Other American Indian “seats of power” are cited in the Werewocomoco two years can be seen at www.historyisfun.org/ exhibition. Pictured are a Black-on-White painted pottery effigy vessel after the werowocomoco.htm. n in the shape of a bird, dating to A.D. 900-1050, from Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, on loan from a private collection, and a Late Woodland period mask made from the upper jaw of a bear, courtesy of the Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park in Tazewell County, Virginia. 2 Ship Sails Sculpture ‘A Fair Wind’ Greets Jamestown Settlement Visitors A massive bronze sculpture de- Eastern Shore, by a team of 11 artisans The fountain sculpture was fund- signed by nationally prominent wildlife using the “lost wax” method of bronze ed by donations made during “The sculptor David casting. This Campaign for Jamestown Settlement, H. Turner was process involved 1607-2007,” including leadership gifts dedicated May sculpting in clay from The Cabell Foundation and the 15 at Jamestown and wax and pour- late Robert F. Suleski, to the Jamestown- Settlement’s ing 2,000-degree Yorktown Foundation, Inc. Jamestown Quadricentennial molten bronze Settlement’s Quadricentennial Plaza was Plaza, an outdoor, into molds, creat- developed as part of a transformation of flag-lined space ing more than facilities and exhibits in advance of the adjacent to the 75 pieces later 2007 commemoration. n museum entrance. welded together. Comprised of Mr. Turner, three ship masts a native Virgin- and wind-blown ian and graduate sails, the new sculpture – named “A Fair of the College of William and Mary, Wind” – resembles the logo of “Amer- “focused on evoking an emotional con- ica’s 400th Anniversary,” a series of nection rather than on minute details” events in 2006 and 2007 that commemo- in designing the sculpture. The work rated and drew national attention to the includes stylized bronze ropes and 1607 founding in Virginia of America’s riggings that enhance the design and first permanent English colony. The provide structural support. Mr. Turner’s 3,000-pound, 18-foot-long sculpture was more than 60 commissioned sculptures placed in an existing circular fountain, are on public display across the country Sections of the sculpture were transported where jets of water splash up toward the and include “Eagle & Eaglets” at Consti- to Jamestown Settlement by truck from sails. At its tallest point, the sculpture tution Hall, “Trio of Herons” at Vir- Virginia’s Eastern Shore, lifted into place with a crane, and secured to the Quadricenten- rises 17 feet above the water surface. ginia Beach Town Center and “Canada nial Plaza fountain with a stainless steel base “A Fair Wind” was produced at Geese” at Chicago Botanic Garden. anchoring system. Turner Sculpture in Onley, on Virginia’s Cincinnati Society Plate, Naval Trunk Acquired for Yorktown Victory Center A Chinese export porcelain plate Washington’s dinner from a large dinner service purchased service, consisting of more by George Washington in 1785 has than 300 pieces, was made been acquired for future exhibit at the and decorated in Canton Yorktown Victory Center. The plate is and shipped to the United painted in the center with the alle- States on the Pallas a year gorical winged figure of Fame blowing after the new nation had her trumpet and the eagle insignia of established trade with China. the Society of the Cincinnati, whose A small trunk owned by Continen- covering, ornamented with brass tacks. members had served as commissioned tal Navy shipbuilder Captain Tobias Captain Lear was supervisor of the officers in the Continental Army or Lear also was added to the collection. Continental Yard near Portsmouth, Navy during the American Revolu- The wooden dome trunk, just 15 inches New Hampshire, during the Revolution tion. Washington was President long and 9 and built the Ranger, the famous ship General of the Society from inches high, captained by John Paul Jones. its founding in 1783 until his dates to Acquired with private donations to death in 1799. The group 1773 and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, took its name from the Roman retains its Inc., both objects help illustrate exhibit Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a original themes in planned new Yorktown farmer turned patriot-soldier.