Persistence in the Face of Change: 17th Century Rappahannock Households at Camden Farm

Summary

Contemporary understandings of 17th century Algonquian Rappahannock history are inextricably linked to regional historical narratives emphasizing chiefdom development and Anglo-Native Virginian colonial encounters. The Powhatan Chiefdom, one of the most influential  political organizations within the broader Coastal Plain, often serves as the primary research focus for  investigations of these topics due to its perceived role as the dominant force defining regional social organization strategies and and as the primary mediator of Algonquian-English interactions. These perspectives have led to an overshadowing of Rappahannock tribal histories, namely local political and economic developments, the impetuses leading to their emergence, and the unique responses of regional Algonquian communities to Euro-American colonization. Through an archaeological and historical analysis of 17th century indigenous households at the Camden archaeological district, I intend to illuminate a unique, non-Powhatan-oriented Rappahannock history that demonstrates cultural persistence within a rapidly changing social landscape.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Indigenous Landscapes of the Middle Chesapeake   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 729