Raleigh colonies locations continue to elude archeologists

Nick Luccketti holds the sparking, green, 16th Century olive jar sherd. This is one of the clues that the archeologists are on the right track in their investigation. Ed Beckley Sentinel




Raleigh colonies locations continue to elude archeologists
By Ed Beckley Sentinel Correspondent

There's good news and bad news surrounding the two-week excavations that concluded Oct. 20, according to principal archeologist Nick Luccketti. "The good news is that we didn't find anything of consequence that could be lost in the future. The bad news is we didn't find anything of consequence."This is the last in a series of articles on the 2006 excavations at Fort Raleigh in search of the original sites of the Sir Walter Raleigh colonies.Luccketti, along with principal archeologist Eric Klingelhofer and First Colony Foundation President Phil Evans remained optimistic, however, and said their team would definitely return next year. "This is just the beginning," Luccketti said.Evans said that one of the primary goals of the excavations was to find out what percentage of the site in question was lost to erosion, and they determined that almost all of that part has been inundated by Roanoke Sound. Klingelhofer added that the team determined there was no major occupation there, but did not rule out the possibility that the village and forts could be adjacent to the digs, and submerged due to hundreds of years of steady erosion on northeast Roanoke Island.The archeologists found 15 artifacts in the test squares they dug parallel to the sound between Waterside Theater and the Prince House. The finds ranged from prehistoric Native American pottery sherds, to 16th Century olive jar sherds, musket charges, 19th Century pharmaceutical bottles and American stoneware, perhaps associated with the occupation of Union Civil War soldiers. The group concluded this area was only peripheral to the colonial residential site, at best.The principals said there were several important and positive outcomes of their visit, however. Evans said they learned that the present land surface on the island isn't that old, and the team has identified the various strata underground. Klingelhofer said that while it would have been nice to have found more artifacts to help date the strata, archeologists now know for certain how far down they need to dig to identify when the early Native tribes occupied the land. "We're starting to see and understand the ancient topography," he said, which would help them in future digs.Evans said the work paid off in other areas, as well. "We have built a good relationship with the National Park Service, and members of the community have shared valuable information on their experiences and findings. People are coming to us, and we're extending our eyes and ears to the people who live here. Klingelhofer said the park service is an important partner, and as long as the present dig site continues to produce artifacts near the eroding shoreline, park employees will keep a sharp eye on it and share what they learn.
He and Luccketti said the First Colony Foundation Board of Directors would meet to discuss future excavations here. Likely, they would focus on Roanoke Island, but perhaps in different locations.Evans said there's an area in Wanchese on private property that may hold some secrets, and the group needs to discuss access with the land owner. He said the group also would review the need for more underwater archeology.Klingelhofer said that modern archeologists have the tools to read the ground more efficiently than in the past, so he believes more geophysical remote sensing projects need to be done within the Fort Raleigh grounds, and particularly to revisit previously excavated areas from the mid 20th Century and later.Luccketti said the list of follow-ups includes the potential to excavate in the Hariot Woods section of Fort Raleigh, where past park service sensors have located underground anomalies. He said he believes "something secondary" is there, however, and not the village and forts.Klingelhofer said the Foundation has a commitment to the park service to continue excavating, and they look forward to returning to Roanoke Island in 2007.

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