Archaeological investigations were conducted at River Terrace School in Washington D.C. prior to construction. Over 3,500 artifacts were found, mostly dating to Native American occupation between 5,000-3,000 years ago and 1,200-500 years ago. Testing uncovered evidence of a Native American village, including projectile points, knives, scrapers, pottery, and fire-cracked rock. Analysis of the artifacts is ongoing and a final report will be completed in March 2014.

1. Archaeology In the District
Archaeology
• Use of material culture to:
• Give voice to the voiceless
• Act as a check on documents/stories
• Study broader social trends
Artifact
• Any man-made or modified object that is more than 50 years
old
Site
• Continuous distribution of artifacts (by definition 50 years old or
more)

2. Archaeology at River Terrace
School
OVERVIEW
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City Archaeologist Dr. Ruth Trocolli of DC HPO requests archaeology be
conducted at River Terrace School
Stantec and EHT Traceries, Inc. conducted archaeological investigations
from January 2nd through February 18th
Found over 3500 artifacts
Most are Native American
A few date to the late 18th to early 19th century (ca. 1775 to 1825)
CURRENT STATUS
• Field investigations complete but need to monitor courtyard during
construction-construction can proceed outside the building at any time
• Artifact analysis ongoing
• Report preparation ongoing
• Anticipate draft report being completed end of March 2014

3. Why Do Archaeology?
Historic Landmark and Historic District Protection Act of 1978 (D.C. Law 2-144, as
amended) direct the Mayor, heads of subordinate agencies, or heads of
independent agencies with jurisdiction over an undertaking to take into
account the effect of that undertaking on properties listed or eligible for
listing in the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites.
DC City Archaeologist Dr. Ruth Trocolli
requests archaeology based on:
• Smithsonian collected Native
American artifacts from the
property 60 to 80 years ago
• Dr. Trocolli collected artifacts
during installation of storm sewer in
2011

4. 2014 Investigations
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Determined that about 2 feet of fill is present over the now-buried land surface
Used excavator to remove fill
Hand-excavated 24 shovel test pits and 16 3-x-3 foot square test units
Excavated by 5-inch levels
Soil screened to find artifacts

5. N
Areas of
Excavation
• School
Addition
• Parking Lots
• Trails
MT 6
MT 5
MT 12
BLK 5
BLK 1
3
5
7
4
2
1
MT 2
6
BLK 3
BLK 6
12 15
MT 3
BLK 2
10
9
14
11
8
13
BLK 4
MT 4
MT 1
MT 7
16
MT 10
MT 11
(and expansion)
Existing School
Building
MT 8
MT 9
meters
34th St. NE
Proposed Addition
Proposed Path
Proposed Parking Lot
Machine Trench (MT #)
Proposed Playground
Positive Shovel Test Pit Location
0
5
10
15
20
25
Additional Machine-Excavated
Blocks (BLK #)
Test Unit Location (#)

6. Test
Units
Shovel
test pit

7. What we found
Native American village or camp
Over 3500 artifacts
Native American artifacts indicate location was occupied twice:
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5000 to 3000 years ago
1200 to 500 years ago
Projectile points
Knives
Scrapers
Pottery
Cobbles used to make stone tools
Waste debris from stone tool
making
Fire-cracked rock from fire pits and
hearths
Grinding stones
Raw material from:
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Anacostia River flats
Rhyolite from northern
Maryland/southern
Pennsylvania

8. Knives
Pottery ca. 3000 years old

9. Last Thoughts
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Many Native American sites along Anacostia and Potomac Rivers
Home to the Piscataway Indians in early 1600s
Large town, Nacochtank, somewhere along Anacostia River
Site is unique as many have been destroyed by urbanization
Artifacts preserved and owned by District of Columbia
Incorporate information into signs
Artifacts available to view
Thank You!
Questions?