FURTHER EXCAVATIONS AT THE INDIAN VILLAGE 

 SITE OF PATAWOMEKE (POTOMAC) 



By T. D. STEWART 



Associate Curator, Division of Physical Anthropology 



U. S. National Museum 



The systematic excavations carried on last year at the site of the 

 Indian village visited by Capt. John Smith in the summer of 1608 

 and described by him under the name of Patawomeke, indicated that 

 it had been a stockaded village. Among the details of the town plan 

 that remained undiscovered at the close of the 1938 season were the 

 main entrances, the location of the dwellings, and the manner of their 

 construction. The cultural objects obtained during this work, as well 

 as previously by Judge Graham, showed considerable uniformity, and 

 thereby suggested a relatively short occupancy of the site ; nothing 

 thus far gave indication of the presence here of cultural elements 

 differing from those apparent on the surface. Nevertheless, a further 

 development of the town plan in itself was deemed of sufficient im- 

 portance for continuing the investigation in 1939. For permission to 

 excavate further on the site I am indebted to J. L. Pratt, of Fred- 

 ericksburg, Va., and James Ashby, of Stafford, Va. 



In order that the work might be carried on more intensively, the 

 arrangement whereby we commuted from Washington was discon- 

 tinued, and a camp was set up at the site. Additional funds permitted 

 me to employ as assistants Robert Ladd and James Gillis, Jr., both 

 of Washington, and to reemploy two local laborers. On June 15 two 

 tents were pitched on the bluff overlooking the broad expanse of 

 water where Potomac Creek enters the Potomac River. Shade, and 

 unfortunately also fruit — which in turn attracted flies — was supplied 

 by mulberry trees ; water was obtained from the fine spring that pre- 

 sumably supplied the Indian village in its clay ; and supplies were 

 transported with generous local help from Brooke, 7 miles away. 

 One of the more appreciated assets of the location was the good 

 swimming afforded by the river. Under these pleasant living condi- 

 tions, the work was carried on until July 24, 1939. 



The camp site also proved to be attractive to a Carolina wren, 

 which insisted in trying to build a nest in a retracted tent flap and in 

 the author's bed. In the latter place, however, the mosquito netting 

 eventually served as a trap that discouraged her further efforts in 

 this location. 



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