The Atkinson site was first found in 1990 during a “Phase I” archaeological survey of the so-called Locust Grove Tract, a 230-acre piece of land near Carter’s Grove Plantation about eight miles southeast of Williamsburg. During a Phase I survey, archaeologists typically scour a piece of ground systematically, digging small shovel test pits at certain intervals to note the presence of artifacts and/or subsurface features. Some 44 shovel test pits in the area of the Atkinson site revealed over 300 artifacts, and the site was given the field designation “CG-10,” as it was the tenth site discovered in the survey.
“Phase II” investigations were undertaken in spring and summer 1991 on 18 of the 24 sites discovered in the 1990 work, including CG-10. At this time small test units, 75 x 75 cm in size, were excavated at 5-meter intervals along what appeared to be the site axes. These revealed a large number of artifacts, including a fluted delftware bowl and a latten spoon, as well as several postholes and what appeared to be a ravine deposit. The site was noted as deserving further investigation at a later time, and no development was permitted on the lots containing the site.
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| (Above) Tobacco pipe with “LE” mark, made by Bristol pipemaker Llewellyn Evans after 1661. This was one of many finds that were made during the Phase II investigation. | ||
| (Left) “Deer’s foot” latten spoon recovered in one of the Phase II test units. Such finds suggested that the site would be well worth investigation. | ||
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| Copyright 2002 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
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