Gypsy Heart
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Major excavation planned to find original Raleigh sites
BY ED BECKLEY | SENTINEL CORRESPONDENT
Millie Flores points to the area between the Prince House and the Lost Colony theater, where a team of archeologists plans a search for artifacts, hopefully uncovering the original Sir Walter Raleigh colonies. Ed Beckley | Sentinel
Depending on the availability of financial resources and the approval of the National Park Service, as many as 15 archeologists may converge upon Roanoke Island next month, in hopes of finally finding the exact sites of the Sir Walter Raleigh colonies.
Excavations will be led by Eric Klingelhofer, of Macon, Ga., and Nick Lucetti, of Jamestown, Va., co-vice presidents of the First Colony Foundation.
Phil Evans, Foundation president, of Durham, said the objectives are to “find out where the site exactly is, what it looks like, how big is it and what has been lost to erosion and the ravages of time.”
Millie Flores, historian and museum program manager for the Park Service at Fort Raleigh, said the application process is under way. She said the plan is to undertake different tests” between the rip-rap and Prince House, after clearing about an acre-and-a-half of underbrush near the Lost Colony production ticket booth. The research team also needs to present a plan for replacing the vegetation before it can receive the okay to proceed, she said. Flores is also a noted researcher on Spanish history of the late 1500s and 1600s, and the Foundation is using her findings, as well.
Lucetti said the archeologists will work along the edge of a bluff along the water line, and excavate two lines of test squares about five feet wide. They'll dig the second line of squares a bit further from the bluff. “Our goal will be to see if there are artifacts, a refuse pit or even an intact layer related to either Raleigh settlement.”
Klingelhofer said they'll place emphasis on the eroding shoreline near the Lost Colony theater.
Lucetti said prominent national underwater archeologist Gordon Watts is part of an ongoing Foundation project offshore, near the site of the digs. Watts is director of the Institute for International Maritime Research, Inc., of Washington, NC. Evans said Watts was expected to be continuing his investigation there, at this time.
The reason for excavating in those areas, according to Lucetti, is that a colonist-era barrel was found in shallow water there in the 1980s. “It's probably the bottom barrel of a barrel-lined well,” he said. The barrel has been carbon-dated to the era, and still exists today in an unceremonious metal garbage can on the Park Service grounds.
He said searchers also found an axe head, and ceramic shards, all consistent with what the colonists would have used. “There are relics related to one or both settlements.”
Lucetti said it's exciting that surface and underwater work will be undertaken simultaneously. All the researchers expressed grave concern that the quickly eroding shoreline on northeast Roanoke Island may be giving up its secrets to the sound.
Evans said he still has fund raising to do, “to raise the money to house and feed the archeologists, and to pay a modest stipend.” He said the Foundation is a non-profit organization, and donations to support the local excavation are tax deductible. Donors can send checks to the First Colony Foundation, 1501 Cole Mill Rd., Durham, NC 27705.
He invited donors to “come out and see your money at work.” Pending approvals and funding, work could begin as early as Oct. 9, Flores said.
http://obsentinel.womacknewspapers.com/articles/2006/09/20/features/feats110101.txt
BY ED BECKLEY | SENTINEL CORRESPONDENT
Millie Flores points to the area between the Prince House and the Lost Colony theater, where a team of archeologists plans a search for artifacts, hopefully uncovering the original Sir Walter Raleigh colonies. Ed Beckley | Sentinel
Depending on the availability of financial resources and the approval of the National Park Service, as many as 15 archeologists may converge upon Roanoke Island next month, in hopes of finally finding the exact sites of the Sir Walter Raleigh colonies.
Excavations will be led by Eric Klingelhofer, of Macon, Ga., and Nick Lucetti, of Jamestown, Va., co-vice presidents of the First Colony Foundation.
Phil Evans, Foundation president, of Durham, said the objectives are to “find out where the site exactly is, what it looks like, how big is it and what has been lost to erosion and the ravages of time.”
Millie Flores, historian and museum program manager for the Park Service at Fort Raleigh, said the application process is under way. She said the plan is to undertake different tests” between the rip-rap and Prince House, after clearing about an acre-and-a-half of underbrush near the Lost Colony production ticket booth. The research team also needs to present a plan for replacing the vegetation before it can receive the okay to proceed, she said. Flores is also a noted researcher on Spanish history of the late 1500s and 1600s, and the Foundation is using her findings, as well.
Lucetti said the archeologists will work along the edge of a bluff along the water line, and excavate two lines of test squares about five feet wide. They'll dig the second line of squares a bit further from the bluff. “Our goal will be to see if there are artifacts, a refuse pit or even an intact layer related to either Raleigh settlement.”
Klingelhofer said they'll place emphasis on the eroding shoreline near the Lost Colony theater.
Lucetti said prominent national underwater archeologist Gordon Watts is part of an ongoing Foundation project offshore, near the site of the digs. Watts is director of the Institute for International Maritime Research, Inc., of Washington, NC. Evans said Watts was expected to be continuing his investigation there, at this time.
The reason for excavating in those areas, according to Lucetti, is that a colonist-era barrel was found in shallow water there in the 1980s. “It's probably the bottom barrel of a barrel-lined well,” he said. The barrel has been carbon-dated to the era, and still exists today in an unceremonious metal garbage can on the Park Service grounds.
He said searchers also found an axe head, and ceramic shards, all consistent with what the colonists would have used. “There are relics related to one or both settlements.”
Lucetti said it's exciting that surface and underwater work will be undertaken simultaneously. All the researchers expressed grave concern that the quickly eroding shoreline on northeast Roanoke Island may be giving up its secrets to the sound.
Evans said he still has fund raising to do, “to raise the money to house and feed the archeologists, and to pay a modest stipend.” He said the Foundation is a non-profit organization, and donations to support the local excavation are tax deductible. Donors can send checks to the First Colony Foundation, 1501 Cole Mill Rd., Durham, NC 27705.
He invited donors to “come out and see your money at work.” Pending approvals and funding, work could begin as early as Oct. 9, Flores said.
http://obsentinel.womacknewspapers.com/articles/2006/09/20/features/feats110101.txt
