VA-3902
July 12-21, 2010 (including weekends)
Must commit to minimum of two days
Chippokes Plantation State Park is located on the banks of the James River in Surry County, Virginia, across from the famous site of Jamestown. This year's work will consist of an excavation at the Chippokes Plantation kitchen (mid-19th century) to explore the nuances of subsistence activities and associated tools, interactions between the local African and Anglo communities, exchange systems, and architectural history and the division of space. A satellite excavation is also planned at the nearby Hatch Site, located on the James River Wildlife Refuge. This site has yielded dates with ranges consistent with Middle Woodland (A.D. 1-500) to Contact Period (ca. 1600s A.D.) occupations. Data from both sites will address the creolization of the area's distinct cultures into one overall Chesopean-Virginian culture.
PIT volunteers and Forest Service staff will conduct shovel tests and excavation and screening of test units at the Chippokes site, and will map and make profile and plan-view drawings. Other field tasks will include artifact identification and preliminary analysis, photography, and data recording. The Hatch Site project will be a salvage recovery of in-situ cultural materials, which are currently erroding into Powells Creek, utilizing both excavation and flotation recovery techniques. Work at both sites will be highly mobile, and will be assigned according to the experience level of each individual. Experienced and inexperienced volunteers are equally welcome!
Number of openings: 30
Special skills: Must be physically capable of hiking between various site locations during the project, and sitting and/or kneeling for extended periods
Minimum age: 12 years old; under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Excellent, developed camping facilities provided at no charge; water, flush toilets, and showers available; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment and food; cabins available for rent through the Virginia Parks system; Williamsburg is a full-service town, offering hotels/motels, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities
Nearest towns: Surry, 8 miles; Williamsburg, 12 miles
Applications due: May 10, 2010