Archeological Investigations at Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve

Summary

In June–July 2005, a systematic archeological pedestrian survey and limited Phase-I subsurface testing was conducted at Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve (SARI) by the Southeast Archeological Center’s (SEAC) Regionwide Archeological Survey Program (RASP). The purpose of this survey was to provide a Phase I-level inventory of archeological resources at SARI, and evaluate potential impacts at several proposed locations for the placement of a marine research and education center in the vicinity of Salt River Bay on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The primary goals of the inventory were: (1) to evaluate the presence and extent of unidentified cultural resources possibly located within the four areas proposed for the center’s location, and (2) to locate and identify terrestrial cultural resources that had been previously reported but their locations were uncertain.

As a result of these efforts, spatial, temporal, and structural data were collected and improved for the previously identified prehistoric Lignum Vitae site on Estate Judith’s Fancy (Virgin Islands Site Number 12VAm1-5, the Judith’s Fancy site). Additionally, the remnants of a prehistoric site first identified by Gudmond Hatt in 1923 were encountered, as was a relic mangrove swamp and possible shell-bearing sheet midden that is also prehistoric in age. Excavations conducted at the Judith’s Fancy site provided two charcoal samples from a burned post, a shell sample, and a human tooth that were submitted to Beta Analytic for radiocarbon dating. All four dated samples fell within a time range of a.d. 540–890, firmly placing the age of the site within the Magens Bay-Salt River I phase (ca. a.d. 600–900), with a late Saladoid presence also evidenced.

Based on the results of the archeological investigations conducted in 2005, the following recommendations were made. First, either the hotel peninsula or the disturbed area corresponding with Vescelius’s Site 5 is recommended as acceptable for use as the location of the marine research and education center activities. Second, a Phase II cultural resource survey should be conducted for either selected location prior to construction. Third, it is recommended that the old road that parallels the eastern shoreline of Salt River Bay, beginning on the southern end of Triton Peninsula, be used as the primary access to the hotel peninsula. And fourth, a Phase II archeological survey of a corridor surrounding and following the old road should be conducted if it is to be used to access the proposed center.

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

File Information