July 28, 2003
Westport Archaeological Survey Nears Completion of Phase One
The Public Archaeology Laboratory (PAL) is nearing completion of the first phase of the town-wide archaeological reconnaissance survey of Westport. The Westport Historical Society contracted with PAL to complete the project, and is funding the survey with support from its membership and town residents. The survey is designed to collect information about land-use patterns in Westport ranging from 10,000 years ago to the mid-twentieth century, and to use this information to identify archaeological sites and locations where items of archaeological importance may be present. The research gathered during the survey will be used by the WHS and the Town to help protect important archaeological resources, through existing and potential public permitting and approval processes and ongoing public and private efforts at land acquisition and preservation.
During Phase I of the survey, the PAL project team has been gathering background on known archaeological sites in Westport. While the Town boasts nearly a dozen National Register Historic Districts and more than one hundred inventoried historic buildings, there are currently only seven “pre-contact” Native American and one historic period site in Westport recorded in the official state files at the Massachusetts Historical Commission. One major goal of the survey is to record additional sites through background research and interviews with local residents and artifact collectors.
The first phase of the survey was also designed to familiarize the PAL team with the physical environment and history of Westport. This has been accomplished through the review of environmental data such as wetlands and soil maps; regional and town histories and historic maps; and driveover visits throughout Westport’s villages and outlying areas. We have used this information to produce preliminary archaeological sensitivity maps of the town as well as predictive models as to the types and locations of archaeological sites that could be present within Westport.
Phase II of the survey will focus on refining the preliminary data collected by PAL. This portion of the survey will rely heavily on input from members of the WHS, local residents and historians who can provide information on archaeological sites or areas that may contain sites. Examples of these include Native American artifact find spots, shell middens, burial grounds and village or camp sites. Historic period archaeological sites could include building ruins, old roadways, abandoned commercial and industrial sites (e.g. mills, saltworks, taverns), military camps and battle sites, meetinghouses, and farm complexes. The PAL archaeologists will combine the Phase I background with informant information to produce the final report on the survey, record new archaeological sites, and provide the WHS with a tool to help protect and preserve Westport’s unique history.
A Public Day has been planned for Sunday, June 29 from 1 to 4 PM at the Bell School to allow members of the community to share their knowledge about artifacts and sites with the PAL archaeologists. Anyone who cannot attend or who would like to contribute to the town-wide survey can contact Holly Herbster, Project Archaeologist, at (401) 728-8780 or Hherbster@palinc.com. Holly Herbster