by Lillian Salamone, Laurence King, Kathleen Keith
Faculty mentor: Dr. Lauren McMillan
Students in the introductory archaeology class at the University of Mary Washington conducted a preliminary shovel test pit survey of the site currently referred to as Little Falls-Norton Property in March and April 2018 and March 2019. These investigations were undertaken at the request of the landowners, who discovered archaeological material while doing yard work. The site is currently a residential lot, near Little Falls Plantation, which is in southern Stafford County, Virginia. The analysis and interpretation of the site was undertaken by the authors for a class project. Analysis of the artifacts, combined with archival research, indicates the site was likely an Antebellum slave quarter/Postbellum tenant site. This mid-19th-century site was likely an outlying field quarter associated with the larger Little Falls Plantation. This poster will detail the historical and archaeological evidence uncovered during the course of this project and outline suggestions for future research.
What a fascinating poster presentation!! Looks like you had some pretty important findings that may add something to our understanding of land-holdings inhabited by enslaved humans in and around the area of Fredericksburg. It is really interesting that he property once belonged to Mary Ball’s family.