Phase I Archaeological Investigations at Fort Monroe and Old Point Comfort, 44HT27, Hampton, Virginia

The Environmental Office of the Directorate of Public Works retained John Milner Associates, Inc. (JMA), to undertake an archaeological survey of the Fort Monroe installation, Hampton, Virginia. The 568 acre project area contains Fort Monroe, a third-system seacoast fortification and surrounding land. The archaeological investigations were undertaken to assist Fort Monroe personnel to comply with Section 110 of the National Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The survey project reviewed existing documents to define areas of high, low and no sensitivity for containing potentially significant archeological resources. Shovel tests and test units were excavated in high and low sensitivity areas to determine the presence or absence of potentially significant archaeological resources.

Fort Monroe (44HA27) contained a variety of areas both inside and outside the fort, that contained archaeological resources. Several areas were defined based on the type of resources present or absent. Most of the facility contained no resources or no potentially significant resources. Some areas which were defined as highly sensitive areas could not be tested because they were under asphalt or near utilities that had not been identified before fieldwork began. Two loci of preserved archeological resources were evaluated as not eligible for the National Register. Twelve loci were identified as potentially eligible resources and five, including one prehistoric locus, were identified as eligible for the National Register.

A series of maps depicting the locations of the resources was made. The recommendations are that the maps be incorporated into the planning process so that the resources are taken into consideration during the development on the facility. It is also recommended that the National Historic Landmark form be revised to take into consideration the new information on cultural resources gathered since it was written.