The Water Island Archaeological Project: archaeology and history in the eastern Caribbean

In 1998 extensive investigations were undertaken on Water Island, US Virgin Islands, by a research team from the Southeast Archeological Center, National Park Service. The US government is relinquishing ownership of the island, an action that would affect cultural resources. Earlier surveys had loca...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antiquity 2001-09, Vol.75 (289), p.513-514
Main Authors: Anderson, David G., Kidd, R. Steven, Yates, Emily M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeological artifacts
Archaeological excavation
Archaeological expeditions
Archaeological research
Archaeology
Caribbean
Dirac, Paul
Historical archaeology
Islands
News & Notes
Settlement archaeology
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Summary:In 1998 extensive investigations were undertaken on Water Island, US Virgin Islands, by a research team from the Southeast Archeological Center, National Park Service. The US government is relinquishing ownership of the island, an action that would affect cultural resources. Earlier surveys had located a number of sites, including the remains of three 18th- and l9th-century plantations, historic wells, prehistoric shell middens and an extensive World War II fortification complex (Wild & Anderson 1992; Knight 2001; Anderson et al. in preparation). Water Island, located off St Thomas, encompasses about one square mile, and is characterized by steep rocky slopes, a pronounced central ridgeline and a highly indented coastline with numerous bays and beaches (FIGURE 1). Fresh water comes from rainfall, and in small brackish ponds. Vegetation ranges from dry tropical thorn scrub to mangrove/salt ponds.
ISSN:0003-598X
1745-1744
DOI:10.1017/S0003598X00088700