Native Americans at Fort Ward Park by Stephen Potter. September 15, 2009.

From: "Stephen Potter"
To: "glenn eugster"
Cc: "Wanda Dowell"
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:51:05 AM
Subject: Re: Native Americans at Fort Ward Park

Hi Glenn,

Good to hear from you. And, Wanda, your memory is amazing! I didn't recall
talking "Indians" with you at Fort Ward--I do recall many conversations
relating to the "Late Unpleasantness" and all my ancestors who lived
nearby, but not prehistory. So, I'm glad you remembered.

My advice is very general. Because of the high ground and the nearness to
potable water (the various branches of Lucky Run), prehistoric
people--particularly during a time-period that archeologists call the Late
Archaic (c. 4000 - 1200 B.C.)--may have used the site of Fort Ward as a
temporary campsite, while accessing seasonal resources in the interior
uplands. This was a time before pottery, horticulture, or settled village
life. The people depended upon gathering and hunting. Their larger base
camps were most likely located adjacent to the flood plain of nearby Four
Mile Run and other major tributaries that feed into the Potomac. Where
there were outcrops of stone such as quartzite and quartz, they often mined
these locations for material to make their chipped stone projectiles from
(quartz for Halifax points, c. 3,500 B.C., and quartzite for Savannah River
points, c. 2,000 B.C.). So, evidence of Late Archaic peoples at Fort Ward
would probably take the form of flakes from re-sharpening stone tools,
tools broken in use and then discarded, and tools discarded because they
were worn-out and couldn't be re-used. Such upland sites are very shallow
and commonly they have been disturbed by agricultural activities, either
before or after the Civil War.

As I recall, Alexandria Archaeology, under the direction of Dr. Pamela
Cressey, conducted excavations at Fort Ward during the early 1990s. They
may have found prehistoric artifacts during the course of their work. I'd
contact Ms. Fran Bromberg (703-838-4399), of Alexandria Archaeology, who
did her Master's Thesis in prehistoric archeology. Perhaps she can check
the collection inventory to see if any prehistoric artifacts were found
and, if so, what type and age.

Wanda, I fondly remember my first meeting with you and Col. Mitchell at
Fort Ward, when I was a teenager. I hope all is well with you and yours.

My best to you both. I hope this is of some help.

Stephen