Archaeological Survey of Prince House Woods, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Roanoke Island, North Carolina

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Archaeological Survey of Prince House Woods, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Roanoke Island, North Carolina ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF PRINCE HOUSE WOODS FORT RALEIGH NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ROANOKE ISLAND, NORTH CAROLINA By: Nicholas M. Luccketti Submitted to: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Southeast Archaeological Center 2035 East Paul Dirac Drive Johnson Building, Suite 120 Tallahassee, FL 23210 ARPA Permit # FORA 2006-001 SEAC Acc. # 2092 FORA Acc. # 88 January 2007 Submitted by: FIRST COLONY FOUNDATION 1501 Cole Mill Road Durham, NC 27705 ii MANAGEMENT SUMMARY Over the past 25 years, archaeological evidence related to the 16th-century Raleigh settlements on Roanoke Island in North Carolina has been found intermittently on the beach at the north end of Fort Raleigh National Historic Site between the Waterside Theater and the Prince House. These artifacts include an iron ax of 16th- century form, sherds of Iberian storage jar, and in the shallow water, an intact barrel buried and a hollowed out log which both radiocarbon dated to the 16th century. Furthermore, the exposed bluff in this area is subject to continual erosion, thus endangering any archaeological resources that may be present. Accordingly, the First Colony Foundation conducted a survey in October of 2006 to determine the potential for any significant archaeological features, strata, or artifact concentrations related to either the 1585 Lane Colony or the 1587 Lost Colony in the area between the edge of the bluff and the north end of the main parking lot. The 2006 fieldwork consisted of the excavation of test units along a transect that was located about 100’ behind the edge of the bluff. Additional test units were excavated along a foot path to the beach and in the dunes along the beach. A total of 23 test units were excavated during the survey. The test units were all 1.5 meter squares with the exception of two test trenches. Several 16th-century European ceramics found on the beach also were recorded during the survey. No 16th-century European artifacts, features, or strata were found in the test units. One sherd of Sevillian olive jar was found on the beach, and three sherds of 16th-century European pottery previously found on the beach were recorded. A concentration of late 19th-century artifacts was found in two test units, and a single layer in one of the test trenches yielded 68 sherds of Colington pottery, probably from a single vessel. The ARPA permit number of this project is FORA 2006-001. The FORA accession number of this project is FORA 88 and the SEAC accession number for this project is SEAC 2092. iii iv TABLE OF CONTENTS MANAGEMENT SUMMARY.........................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... vi INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 CONTEXT.......................................................................................................................... 4 Historical Background .................................................................................................... 4 Archaeological Background: Fort Raleigh National Historic Site ................................. 6 Archaeological Background: Prince House Woods........................................................ 7 2006 RESEARCH DESIGN............................................................................................. 12 Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 12 Methods......................................................................................................................... 12 Expected Results........................................................................................................... 13 FIELDWORK RESULTS................................................................................................. 15 Test Unit 1................................................................................................................. 15 Test Unit 2................................................................................................................. 16 Test Unit 3................................................................................................................. 16 Test Unit 4................................................................................................................. 17 Test Unit 5................................................................................................................. 18 Test Unit 6................................................................................................................. 19 Test Unit 7................................................................................................................. 20 Test Unit 8................................................................................................................. 21 Test Unit 9................................................................................................................. 22 Test Unit 10............................................................................................................... 23 Test Unit 11............................................................................................................... 24 Test Unit 12............................................................................................................... 25 Test Unit 13............................................................................................................... 26 Test Unit 14............................................................................................................... 27 Test Unit 15............................................................................................................... 28 Test Unit 16............................................................................................................... 30 Test Unit 17............................................................................................................... 31 Test Unit 18............................................................................................................... 31 Test Unit 19............................................................................................................... 31 Test Unit 20............................................................................................................... 32 Test Unit 21............................................................................................................... 33 Test Unit 22............................................................................................................... 34 Test Unit 23............................................................................................................... 35 Test Unit 24............................................................................................................... 37 Test Unit 25............................................................................................................... 37 SUMMARY...................................................................................................................... 38 REFERENCES CITED..................................................................................................... 40 Appendix A....................................................................................................................... 43 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Location of Fort Raleigh on Roanoke Island (Harrington 1962). ...................... 2 Figure 2. Detail of Raleigh’s ‘Map of Virginia’ by John White (Hulton 1984)................ 5 Figure 3. Location of Harrington test trenches at Fort Raleigh (Harrington 1962)........... 8 Figure 4. J.C. Harrington surveying mechanically stripped exploratory trenches in parking lot at Fort Raleigh (Fort Raleigh National Historic Site). ..................... 8 Figure 5. Location of 1982 survey test squares and transects (Phelps 1982) .................... 9 Figure 6. Location of probable 16th-century barrel-lined well in the shallow water off of the Prince House Woods. The two NPS rangers are photographing the submerged remains of the barrel (Phillip Evans).............................................. 10 Figure 7. Detail of barrel in shallow water off the Prince House Woods (Phillip Evans). .......................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 8. Location of Sevillian olive jar sherd near feature in bluff below Prince House Woods. .............................................................................................................. 11 Figure 9. 2006 FCF survey showing transect behind dune ridge, facing west. ............... 13 Figure 10. Location of Test Units, Prince House Woods, FCF survey, October, 2006... 15 Figure 11. North Profile of Test Unit 3............................................................................ 16 Figure 12. Test Unit 4 excavated to the surface of layer 4.5. .......................................... 17 Figure 13. Excavation of Test Unit 5.............................................................................. 18 Figure 14. North profile of Test Unit 6............................................................................ 19 Figure 15. North profile of Test Unit
Recommended publications
  • Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc
    Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. 7407 La Jolla Boulevard www.raremaps.com (858) 551-8500 La Jolla, CA 92037 [email protected] [Roanoke Colony - Roanoke Chief] Die Furnemmesten der Inseln unde Statt / so Roanoac genannt (A Chief Lord of Roanoke) Stock#: 44430mp2 Map Maker: De Bry Date: 1590 Place: Frankfurt Color: Hand Colored Condition: VG Size: 9 x 12.5 inches Price: SOLD Description: The Chief / Lord of Roanoke -- Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke Colony -- Based on a painting by John White. Handsome image of a Roanoke Chief, detailing his manner of dress, hair, etc., with a few of the coatline of area of the Roanoke Colony in the background. In 1585, Governor John White, was part of a voyage from England to the Outer Banks of North Carolina under a plan of Sir Walter Raleigh to settle "Virginia." White was at Roanoke Island for about thirteen months before returning to England for more supplies. During this period he made a series of over seventy watercolor drawings of indigenous people, plants, and animals. The purpose of his drawings was to give those back home an accurate idea of the inhabitants and environment in the New World. The earliest Drawer Ref: Carolinas Stock#: 44430mp2 Page 1 of 4 Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. 7407 La Jolla Boulevard www.raremaps.com (858) 551-8500 La Jolla, CA 92037 [email protected] [Roanoke Colony - Roanoke Chief] Die Furnemmesten der Inseln unde Statt / so Roanoac genannt (A Chief Lord of Roanoke) images derived from White's original drawings were made in 1590, when Theodor De Bry made engravings from White's drawings to be printed in Thomas Hariot's account of the journey.
    [Show full text]
  • Commonlit | Settling a New World: the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island
    Name: Class: Settling a New World: The Lost Colony of Roanoke Island By National Park Service 2016 The Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is dedicated to the preservation of England’s first New World settlements, as well as the cultural legacy of Native Americans, European Americans, and African Americans who lived on Roanoke Island. In 1585 and 1587, England tried its hand at establishing a colonial presence in North America under the leadership of Sir Walter Raleigh. The attempts were failures on both accounts but they would come to form one of the most puzzling mysteries in early American history: the disappearance of the Roanoke colony. As you read, take notes on what circumstances or mistakes might have put the English settlers at a disadvantage in creating a lasting colony. [1] "About the place many of my things spoiled and broken, and my books torn from the covers, the frames of some of my pictures and maps rotted and spoiled with rain, and my armor almost eaten through with rust." - John White1 on the lost colony of Roanoke Island 1584 Voyage In the late sixteenth-century, England’s primary goal in North America was to disrupt Spanish "John White discovers the word "CROATOAN" carved at Roanoke's shipping. Catholic Spain, under the rule of Philip fort palisade" by Unknown is in the public domain. II,2 had dominated the coast of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Florida for the latter part of the 1500s. Protestant England, under the rule of Elizabeth I,3 sought to circumvent4 Spanish dominance in the region by establishing colonies in the New World.
    [Show full text]
  • Fort Raleigh Archaeological Project: 1994/1995 Survey Report
    Fort Raleigh Archaelogical Project 1994/1995 Survey Report Nicholas M. Luccketti Virginia Association for Company the Preservation Foundation of Virginia Antiquities December 1996 Graphics by Jamie E. May Design and Production by Elliott Jordan © 1997 by The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and Nicholas M. Luccketti Contents Introduction .................................................. 1 Context ......................................................... 5 Historical Background ....................................................................... 5 Archaeological Background............................................................... 6 Research Design ............................................ 8 1994 Objectives ................................................................................ 8 1995 Objectives .............................................................................. 10 1994/1995 Methods ....................................................................... 11 1994/1995 Expected Results........................................................... 12 Fieldwork Results......................................... 15 1994 Area Excavation ..................................................................... 15 1994 Survey Test Pits ...................................................................... 19 1995 Shovel Test Hole Survey ......................................................... 20 1995 Test Pits .................................................................................. 21 Soil
    [Show full text]
  • The Shofarshofar
    THETHE SHOFARSHOFAR 7199 Tristan Drive Easton, MD 21601 410-822-0553 Rabbi Peter E. Hyman October 2018/Tishrei-Cheshvan 5779 bnaiisraeleaston.org [email protected] From the Rabbi’s Desk Religious Services An Excerpt From Rabbi Hyman's Rosh Hashana Monday, October 1, 6:00 p.m. Evening Sermon Simchat Torah I want to begin this Rosh Hashana, this New Year in a celebratory mode. I want to begin by acknowl- edging the wonderful gifts that our congregation now enjoys and I want to state unashamedly and without hesitation that this congregation is a gift. Just take a moment and look around you. Who Friday, October 5, 6:00 p.m. could have imagined this 10 years ago? Who Kabbalat/Shabbat Service Torah Portion: B’reishit thought this possible? Genesis 1:1-6:8 Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5-43:10 You know, at our formal building dedication, our Chazan, Alan Haber, ended our service of consecration by singing Leonard Cohen's Saturday, October 13, 10:00 a.m. Hallelujah. For those of you who were there, Alan composed and Shabbat Service added a verse to this poignant classic. He wrote and sang these Torah Portion: Noach words: "Some folks said this would not be. Some said this should not Genesis 6:9-11:32 Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5 be, But here today we stand before Bimah. Together we did build this place, Now to fill it with Holy Grace, WE sing as one a mighty Friday, October 19, 6:00 p.m. Hallelujah" Alan's poetry captures the mood, the spirit and yes, the Kabbalat/Shabbat Service exaltation of this inaugural moment.
    [Show full text]
  • Fort Raleigh National Historic Site: Preservation and Recognition, C
    CONTENTS Figure Credits iv List of Figures V Foreword vii Acknowledgements ix Introduction 1 Chapter One: The Roanoke Colonies and Fort Raleigh, c. 1584-1590 9 Associated Properties 28 Registration Requirements/Integrity 29 Contributing Resources 30 Potentially Eligible Archeological Resources 30 Chapter Two: The Settlement and Development of Roanoke Island, c. 1650-1900 31 Associated Properties 54 Registration Requirements/Integrity 55 Noncontributing Resources 57 Potentially Eligible Archeological Resources 57 Chapter Three: Fort Raleigh National Historic Site: Preservation and Recognition, c. 1860-1953 59 Associated Properties 91 Registration Requirements/Integrity 93 Contributing Resources 97 Noncontributing Resources 97 Potentially Eligible Archeological Resources 97 Management Recommendations 99 Bibliography 101 Appendix A: Descriptions of Historic Resources A-l Appendix B: Property Map/Historical Base Map B-l Appendix C: National Register Documentation C-1 Index D-l iii FIGURE CREDITS Cover, 15, 17, 22: courtesy of Harpers Ferry Center, National Park Service; pp. 10, 12, 13, 16, 23: Charles W. Porter III, Adventurers to a New World; pp. 22, 27: Theodore De Bry, Thomas Hariot’s Virginia; pp. 35,39,41: courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, NC; pp. 37, 38: Samuel H. Putnam, The Story of Company A, Twenty-Fifth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, in the War of the Rebellion; p. 43: Vincent Colyer, Report of the Services Rendered by the Freed People to the United States Army, in North Carolina; pp. 44, 46, 47: Joe A. Mobley, James City, A Black Community in North Carolina, 1863-1900; pp. 55, 67, 81: S. Bulter for the National Park Service; pp. 61, 66, 78: William S.
    [Show full text]
  • Sephardic Pirates of the Revolutionary War
    Sephardic Pirates of the Revolutionary War Presenter: Jim Harlow Co-sponsored by Friendship - Jews and George Washington To the Hebrew Congregation in Rabbi Newport Rhode Island. Aaron Lopez Michael Hays Gershom Seixas Jacob Hart Moses Myers Gentlemen, While I receive, with much satisfaction, your Address replete with expressions of affection and esteem; I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you, that I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced in my visit to Newport, from all classes of Citizens. The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet, from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good Government, to become a great and happy people. The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent national gifts. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
    [Show full text]
  • Michael Brian Schiffer Studying the Creation of Useful Knowledge
    Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Technique Michael Brian Schiff er The Archaeology of Science Studying the Creation of Useful Knowledge MANUALS IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHOD, THEORY AND TECHNIQUE Series Editors: Charles E. Orser, Jr., Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois Michael Brian Schiffer, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/6256 Author’s Sculpture, Time Dilation, Inspired by Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity (author photograph) Michael Brian Schiffer The Archaeology of Science Studying the Creation of Useful Knowledge Michael Brian Schiffer School of Anthropology University of Arizona Tucson , AZ , USA ISSN 1571-5752 ISBN 978-3-319-00076-3 ISBN 978-3-319-00077-0 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-00077-0 Springer Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London Library of Congress Control Number: 2013933449 © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2013 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifi cally for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher's location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer.
    [Show full text]
  • 1995 Interim Report Beverly Straube Nicholas Luccketti
    1995 Interim Report Beverly Straube Nicholas Luccketti APVA Jamestown Rediscovery November 1996 Graphics and maps by Jamie E. May Design and production by Elliott Jordan © 1996 by The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this report or portions thereof in any form. Contents INTRODUCTION ................................. 5 1995 Excavations ............................... 6 Research Design ............................................................... 6 Results.............................................................................. 8 Pit I (JR1-4) ....................................................................... 8 Palisade Slot Trench (JR60-65) and Buttress Postholes (JR66) ................................................ 10 Pit II (JR4,10,11,12) ......................................................... 12 Structure I (JR50)............................................................. 13 Post-Fort Ditches............................................................. 15 Native American Presence .............................................. 16 ARTIFACTS ....................................... 18 Beads ............................................................................. 18 European Ceramics ......................................................... 20 Pipes .............................................................................. 26 Coins .............................................................................. 28 Jettons ...........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Joachim Ganz
    The First Jew in America Baruch Sterman A neighbor once showed me a very rare certificate – perhaps the only one in Israel – called "Daughters of the Mayflower". She was a direct descendant of people who in 1620 sailed away from the religious persecution of Holland to the New World. A year later, having survived the trials of wild America, the Pilgrims instituted the holiday of Thanksgiving that was celebrated in the US this past week. In fact, there were a number of Jewish families that came over on the Mayflower and perhaps many others who hid their Jewish identity as Marranos. But they were not the first Jews to set foot in North America. Of course, there are many conspiracy theorists who believe that Columbus was really Jewish – but there is no real evidence supporting that. When the North America was discovered and explored in the 16th century, rumors spread through Europe that the language of the wild Indians was Hebrew, and that they were descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes. This, of course, was wonderful news for the downtrodden Jews and it was widely believed that the Messianic era was just around the corner, with people like Solomon Molcho ready and eager to accept that title. But this proved to be just wishful thinking. The first documented case of a Jew to reach the shores of America is that of Joachim (Chaim) Gans who arrived on Roanoke Island, North Carolina in 1585 as part of Sir Walter Raleigh's expedition commissioned by Queen Elizabeth. (The most complete account of Gans' life is found in "The Search for the First English Settlement in America" by Gary Grassl).
    [Show full text]
  • Past Archaeology at Fort Raleigh
    ARCHAEOLOGY AT FORT RALEIGH June 2003 By Martha Williams Whether we realize it or not, there is a bit of the archaeologist in all of us. Some of us collect antiques, while others save tawdry prizes won at carnivals long ago. A few lovingly restore old family homesteads remembered from childhood. Nearly all of us can identify settings—beaches, mountains, neighborhoods—that hold special places in our hearts. Deriving meaning from and deciphering the objects (artifacts), structures (features), and landscapes of the past is also what archaeology is all about. From the outset, the story of Roanoke Island and the fate of its earliest European settlers were an archeological puzzle. When John White’s re-supply expedition arrived at the deserted settlement in 1590, its leader noted both features and artifacts left in the town as he attempted to make sense of what had befallen the colony. “We found the houses taken downe, “a high palisado of great trees, with curtains and flankers very Fort-like,” and “many barres of Iron, two pigges of lead, four iron fowlers, Iron sacker-shotte, and such like heavie things, throwen here and there. .” Over a century later, John Lawson again noted Roanoke’s puzzle of artifacts and features as he described “. .Ronoak Island, where the Ruins of a Fort are to be seen at this day (1700), as well as some old English coins. .a brass gun, a Powder Horn, and one small Quarter deck Gun made of Iron Staves and hooped with the same metal . .” Union soldiers, occupying the island in 1862, dug holes in the sandy site, hoping no doubt to be able to touch relics of the Elizabethan Age.
    [Show full text]
  • Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc
    Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. 7407 La Jolla Boulevard www.raremaps.com (858) 551-8500 La Jolla, CA 92037 [email protected] [Roanoke Colony - Carolina Coastline] Anglorum in Virginiam adventus. II. (The Arrival of the Englishmen in Virginia) Stock#: 58072 Map Maker: De Bry Date: 1590 Place: Frankfurt Color: Hand Colored Condition: VG+ Size: 9 x 6 inches Price: SOLD Description: Map of the Carolina Coastline, Including the Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke Colony Detailed map of the area of Dare County, North Carolina, centered on the Roanoke Colony, site of the first ever English attempt to create a chartered English Colony in North America. Other place names on the map include Weapemeoc, Pasquenoke, Dasamonquepeuc, Secotan, Hatorask, and Trinity Harbor. In 1585, Governor John White, was part of a voyage from England to the Outer Banks of North Carolina under a plan of Sir Walter Raleigh to settle "Virginia." White was at Roanoke Island for about thirteen Drawer Ref: Carolinas Stock#: 58072 Page 1 of 4 Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. 7407 La Jolla Boulevard www.raremaps.com (858) 551-8500 La Jolla, CA 92037 [email protected] [Roanoke Colony - Carolina Coastline] Anglorum in Virginiam adventus. II. (The Arrival of the Englishmen in Virginia) months before returning to England for more supplies. During this period he made a series of over seventy watercolor drawings of indigenous people, plants, and animals. The purpose of his drawings was to give those back home an accurate idea of the inhabitants and environment in the New World. The earliest images derived from White's original drawings were made in 1590, when Theodor De Bry made engravings from White's drawings to be printed in Thomas Hariot's account of the journey.
    [Show full text]
  • American Jewish History
    Jonathan D. Sarna AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY For the past twenty-eight years, Nathan M. Kaganoff, Librarian of the American Jewish Historical Society, has been compiling for the society's journal a regular feature entitled "Judaica Americana," an annotated bibliography listing monographic and periodical literature in the field. The bibliography appears semi-annually, and serves as a barometer of how the study of American Jewish history has changed. Recently, I counted the number of items listed in this bibliography at five year intervals. The result bears out what many have surely suspected: that the number of publications in American Jewish history has grown by leaps and bounds. Publications in American Jewish Historyl 1965 175 1970 155 1975 231 1980 289 1985 465 1989 515 This is not the only indication that American Jewish history has come of age. The availability of scholarly books in American Jewish history, the willingness of learned journals to accept articles in the field, the popularity of American Jewish history courses on college campuses across the nation, the burgeoning number of Ph.D.s, the establishment of major new chairs in American Jewish history at Columbia and Brandeis­ all these reinforce the sense that the field has come a long way. Yet, quantitative growth of this magnitude-232% in twenty years-is not an unmixed blessing. First of all, it is now well-nigh impossible to keep abreast of writings in American Jewish history. Where an earlier generation of scholars could literally read everything published in the field, that today is impossible. Even significant books and articles are easily overlooked.
    [Show full text]