ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, May 27, 1996 TAG: 9605300004
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
DATELINE: STAFFORD
SOURCE: ANNE GEARAN ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Bits of buried stone and pottery are telling archaeologists more about an Indian village Capt. John Smith visited and which later figured into a plot to kidnap Pocahontas.
But the site, on a scenic point overlooking the Potomac River, will soon be destroyed as part of a housing development, and historians and scientists are scrambling to learn as much as they can.
The home of the Potomac Indians is one of the best-preserved examples of early Indian villages, and the only known surviving Potomac village site, archaeologists said.
``This is one of the most important sites in the eastern United States showing the Indian world in prehistoric and at the time of early contact,'' with European explorers, said Helen Rountree, an anthropologist and author of several books about Pocahontas and early Virginia Indians.
Archaeologists have skimmed the topsoil from a section of the site to study dark veins in the ground - evidence of the perimeter fences around the village.
The several fence lines chart the village's outward growth over about 150 years of occupation, said Randolph Turner, director of the Virginia department of Historic Resources' eastern office.
The Indian town sits on a scenic spit of land between the Potomac River and Potomac Creek. Archaeologists have long known Indians lived there and an excavation 50 years ago turned up several burial sites.
The British explorer Smith was the first white man to visit the village in 1608. He drew a detailed map of the far-flung empire of the Potomacs in 1612, showing the village site.
The Potomacs collaborated with the English the following year to kidnap Pocahontas, daughter of the powerful Indian warlord Powhatan. Powhatan had tried to enlist the Potomacs to join his empire, which was based farther south along the Virginia coast.
The Potomacs resisted, and apparently thought they could divert Powhatan's attention by cooperating with the English plot to kidnap the princess in 1613. A sea captain. Samuel Argall, planned to trade her for hostages held by Powhatan.
Pocahontas was a guest of the Potomacs, staying at an outpost near the main village now being investigated, Rountree said.
The popular story about Pocahontas falling in love with Smith, recently dramatized in the Disney feature cartoon ``Pocahontas'' never happened, most historians believe.
Thick brush covered the privately owned land until recently, when the owner filed plans to build a new house with a septic drainage system. The drain field will destroy the village site, Turner said.
The same features that made the site attractive to the Indians - a fine view and fresh water - makes it a prime location for development, Turner said.
``Because much of the choicest property in any state would be near water, that's exactly where you're going to find your earliest settlements,'' Turner said.
Virginia used money from a special fund for threatened archaeological sites to mount a preliminary dig this month. Experts hope to return this summer for more work, Turner said.
The owner has agreed to delay his construction at least for now so archaeologists can work, Turner said. The state has no control over the site and officials are matter-of-fact about the coming loss.
``We're grateful we are getting access to learn something. He didn't have to let us in there at all,'' Turner said.
Development has already destroyed portions of the 1.4-acre village site.
Work now is confined to a corner of the former village site where archaeological deposits are particularly rich. Two weeks of digging this month turned up projectile points, pottery from drinking and cooking pots, debris and evidence of where homes and other buildings stood, archaeologists said.
Turner believes the Potomacs occupied the village and another on the same point of land through early 17th century. Between 50 and 100 people at a time probably lived there, he said.
Archaeologists believe mass graves called ossuaries remain on the site, but Turner said he hopes the bones remain undisturbed.
``The issue of human remains is very sensitive. If we do find them we would probably leave them where they are,'' he said.
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. 1. Archaeologists consider the village in Staffordby CNBCounty to be one of
the best-preserved examples of early Indian villages. 2. Among the
many
artifacts that have been found is this quartz arrowhead. color.