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Indian artifacts revealed
Nationally significant site discovered along North Anna River in Caroline
Date published: 8/15/2005
By JEFF BRANSCOME Ancient Indian artifacts uncovered along a 21/2-mile stretch of State Route 30 shouldn't delay plans to widen that portion of the road by fall 2007, Virginia Department of Transportation officials say. The state budgeted money for the road improvements in order to accommodate traffic for the State Fair of Virginia, which hopes to relocate to southern Caroline County's Meadow Farm in two years. The county Board of Supervisors still must approve the fair's request for rezoning and a special-exception permit. VDOT officials say workers first dug up some artifacts in late July during the beginning of their mandatory archaeological survey of the site. Since then, they have continued to unearth more items. The area sits on level land and borders the North Anna River, two factors that probably appealed to Indians, said John Wells, an architectural historian for VDOT. "There is a known archaeological site on the north side of Route 30," Wells said. "We anticipated that evidence would extend to the south, and, sure enough, we found it there." Helen P. Ross, regional cultural resources manager for VDOT, said she believes the area will "most likely be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places." Some of the items found--which included ceramics and hearths--could date back more than 5,000 years, she said. But officials wouldn't describe their findings in detail or identify the tribe they came from. "I think we're just really reluctant to provide any detailed information without concurrence from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources," Ross said. Because of the fair's expected 2007 opening, VDOT has been forced to "expedite" the surveying process," she said, and hopes to finish in November. Construction on the road may start next spring. The fair has promised not to hold any events until the section of Route 30--near Paramount's Kings Dominion theme park--is widened to four lanes. A public hearing on the preliminary design of the widening of Route 30 will be held at 4 p.m. today in the Dawn Progressive Association Building. To reach JEFF BRANSCOME:
Read more stories about Caroline Date published: 8/15/2005
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