Cause Project
by CROATOAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
$10,000.00
Donation Goal
Donation Goal
Project Details
The Croatoan Archaeological Project (CAP) is an ongoing archaeological research project that is being conducted on the island of Croatoan (modern-day Hatteras Island, NC, Dare County) at the Smithsonian designated Archaeological Site 31DR1. This project is being conducted by the University of Bristol England, in conjunction with the local nonprofit group the Croatoan Archaeological Society (CAS), under the direct supervision of Professor Mark Horton, UoB England, UK. The project began in November of 2009 with a few 2m x 2m test pits in the archaeological area of 31DR1, and has continued with full scale excavations each Spring from 2010 to present. Each year, Prof Horton and a crew of both graduate and undergraduate archaeology students from the UoB come to Hatteras Island to conduct the excavations and research for a period of approximately 2-3 weeks.
The findings each year have provided much information on the Native Way of Life of the early American Indians in this area, dating them back to the pre-archaic time period with evidence of clovis points, and early stone tools. In addition, a wealth of information has been gained regarding the Early English-Native Contact Period of the late 1500s and early 1600s, including the time period of the Roanoke Voyages (which includes the infamous Lost Colony). The findings support the written history which states very clearly that all of the Roanoke Voyages did in fact come to the Island of Croatoan and that the Lost Colonists did in fact make their way to Croatoan just as they indicated on the tree/palisade where they wrote the word where they intended to go... Croatoan. America's Oldest Mystery is slowly being solved and proven with the research being conducted under the Croatoan Archaeological Project.
The CAP has also shown something very unique to Hatteras Island and the early Croatoan peoples. The archaeological research has shown that the Native People and the early English settlers lived together as brothers, in harmony. There was not the same discord as was seen in Jamestown or other early settlements. Here the English and Natives seemed to assimilate together and became one.. as evidenced by both the archaeology and the written history. This harmony seems to continue on into the 1700s and 1800s as well, proven by the archaeological findings that have come out of the CAP.
While most people find the 'solving of America's Oldest Mystery' as the highlight of the archaeology, there are many among us who find the Native Way of Life to be the most fascinating findings of all. To hold a clovis point in your hand, and know that it was used over 10,000-12,000 years ago by a Native person in the land you are standing on, to most likely kill game in order to eat and survive... to know what patience and time it took for him to chip and carve that rock into that point, and then attach it to a stick with twine from a tree and then hunt to feed his family/community is soul-moving. All of this during a time period that was a part of the last Ice Age, when the Island was not an island but was connected to the larger mainland and had hills and forests.... Now that is magical.
All of the information gained and all of the artifacts acquired during the excavation/research process, are continually shared with the community for the benefit of the community. The artifacts are on display in the gallery room of the Hatteras Village Community Building/ Library in 5 large display cases, along with written educational wall displays. Last year, the CAS added a small case of artifacts along with a Computer Touchscreen of videos to the Hatteras Island Ocean Center, another area nonprofit organization. Both locations are free and open to the public for visiting and viewing the artifacts during the regular business hours.
The CAS holds community lectures and events each year during our excavation in which community members may come and see/hear about our research. The CAS has also hosted a number of events for the local community children, and community members are welcome to participate in the actual archaeological excavation as well.
We are currently planning our Spring Excavation for 2015, and as always are desperately looking for funding to support this project. The cost of the project includes flight for Professor Horton, housing for the crew for 2-3 weeks in a resort area (as Hatteras Island is a tourist/ resort area), food for the crew for 2-3 weeks, a rental vehicle for the crew, refurbishing sifters/sawhorses/dig equipment/supplies, and a certain portion of funding is spent on planning/organizing/conducting the local lectures/events, and maintaining / renewing displays.
You can learn more about this project at our website www.cashatteras.com or our facebook page Croatoan Archaeological Society.
Donation Deadline
Deadline Not Specified
Project Website
http://www.cashatteras.com Project Location
Po Box 938, Buxton,
North Carolina 27920
United States.