Whenever Federal funding is being used for a Project, an archaeological assessment is required for the affected area. Archaeologists then determine the size of impact on archaeological and structural resources, and whether they can be avoided during the construction process. If they cannot (such as is the case with the Wilson Bridge), a full scale, archaeological investigation is conducted. Artifacts are on display in Alexandria at the Torpedo Factory. Alexandria archaeologists and National Park Service archaeologists are very interested in the information found and will compare it to other archaeological sites in the D.C. area.

Plate 1
Discernable Arrowheads, "Projectile Point Fragments"

(A&B) Piscataway, Early to early Middle Woodland Period,
c. 1000BC to AD300
(C) Middle Woodland Period, c. 300BC to AD900
(D) Middle Woodland Period, c. 300BC to AD900

Plate 2
Albernate cord-marked pottery pieces

Early Middle Woodland Period, c. 300BC to AD300

Plate 3
Excavation site with archaeologist

Excavation of a Builder's Trench of a Foundation Wall to a c. 1860s structure

Plate 4
Excavation of a Prehistoric Pit

Plate 5
Excavation site with "action" shot

Excavation of a c. 1860s structure's cellar hole
Archaeologists are screening soil through ¹/₄" mesh to recover artifacts