Eyreville Farm 2020 - Passport in Time

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Virginia - George Washington-Jefferson NF
Closed! Phase I Shovel Testing at Eyreville Farm, Eastern Shore of VA

Eyreville Irish Farthing Krauwinckel II casting counter.jpg by Mike Madden, US Forest Service
Eyreville Irish Farthing Krauwinckel II casting counter


VA-4432
April 20-24, 2020
Volunteers must commit to entire session

Join us as we return to Eyreville Farm (VA Site 44NH0507) in Northampton County Virginia, located along the beautiful Chesapeake Bay and easily reached from Route 13. Eyreville was an extensive plantation dating from the late 17th–19th centuries. There are extant structures – including the main plantation house – ruins, other features, and middens throughout the farm’s locale. This year, we intend to shovel test a part of the farm, adjacent to a salt water creek, in search of both a Union Army encampment and a Native American site that lie to the north and east of the main house. The testing this spring will emphasize our view and our understanding of the multiple occupations of the farm through history and the accompanying variations in material culture.

A field school will run in tandem to this year’s project; the timing in early spring will avoid the influx of insects and the hot, humid weather. Our daily work will begin at 8:30 am and shut down by 4:30 pm. Testing may also be prone to the vagaries of the Chesapeake weather, so be prepared to work in rainy, wet conditions that can suddenly turn warm and mild – and vice versa. There is also much to see and do in this area in your hours “off the clock:” outdoor site-seeing, visits to prehistoric sites and historic battlefields, and, if you like blue crab, this is your place! See you this spring!

Number of openings: 6

Special skills: NOTE: special skills required for this project: 1) Volunteers must be physically capable of repetitive and often strenuous motions such as kneeling, bending, stooping, and lifting; 2) previous archaeological experience at Eyreville Farm and familiarity with locale; 3) survey, mapping, artifact identification, photography, and/or area history/prehistory. Again, all of the above are required for participation in the 2020 Eyreville project.

Minimum age: 18 years old

Facilities: Several motels, restaurants, and a range of other amenities can be found in the environs of nearby Exmore; campgrounds also available in the vicinity including those at Kiptopeke State Park and Cherrystone; participants responsible for all lodging/camp fees (if applicable)/camping equipment, meals, and transportation; chemical toilets with washstands provided by FS at work site

Nearest towns: Cheriton, 1 mile; Cape Charles, 4 miles; Exmore, 4 miles

Applications due: February 17, 2020

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