VA-4063
May 2–9, 2012 (including weekends)
Must commit to minimum of three days
The Savage Neck Site is located in a pristine area on the Chesapeake Bay side of the Eastern Shore. It was discovered and tested by Virginia's Department of Historic Resources and the Smithsonian Institute during the past year, and has been determined to date to the Middle Woodland Period (ca. 500 B.C. - A.D. 900) due to the presence of both Mockley (shell tempered) and Nomini (crushed quartz tempered) ceramics. While many artifacts have washed out of their in-situ position in the site's midden, artifacts and the shells of numerous mollusk species remain buried. We need your help to discover "what lies beneath!" Volunteers and Forest staff will excavate, map, and photograph a series of square units placed within the midden, and will recover and record associated artifacts and features. The site may yield many data that will allow us to understand food resources and life ways specific to the Middle Woodland I (ca. 500 B.C. - A.D. 300) and Middle Woodland II (ca. A.D. 300 - 900) prehistoric periods in this area of Virginia. This is an important project, and due to the threats of wave action, we may be running out of time. Although boundaries have not been positively delineated, it now appears that only an approximately 10' width of the midden site paralleling the beach remains. Tide and time have taken their toll! So, join us this spring, and help us explore the Savage Neck site!
Please note: While the excavation units will be just adjacent to the dune system, high tides may impact the site and operations.
Number of openings: 25
Special skills: Must be physically capable of kneeling for long periods each day in a variety of weather conditions; previous archaeological survey, mapping, feature/artifact identification, and photography experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 14 years old; under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Primitive camping (tent only - there are no RV spaces) available at no charge adjacent to site; water and chemical toilets provided; Eastville and Cape Charles are both full-service communities with hotels/ motels, restaurants and a range of other amenities nearby; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, and transportation
Nearest towns: Eastville, 5 miles; Cape Charles, 11 miles
Applications due: March 5, 2012