Preserving Alexandria’s Maritime Heritage

Increased development along Alexandria's waterfront has uncovered the remains of a bustling late 18th/19th century waterfront neighborhood. In addition to four historic ships, archaeologists also unearthed the remains of wharves, warehouses, businesses, and homes (and their associated artifacts). These amazing finds need to be documented, preserved, conserved, and interpreted for today's public and future generations.

Alexandria Archaeology Curation, Conservation, and Data November 7, 2020 at 12:00 pm
$267
Pledged of $10,000 goal
5
Backers
  • Description
  • Updates
  • FAQ
  • Backers

All artifacts recovered under the purview of the Archaeological Protection Code are required to be curated in a facility that meets Federal standards. Alexandria Archaeology’s repository facility meets these standards and the vast majority of artifacts discovered in Alexandria are curated with the City, including ones from the waterfront.

This project will continue to be disseminated digitally via Alexandria Archaeology’s website, SketchFab account, and social media platforms. Friends of Alexandria Archaeology will also share information on their website and social media.

Alexandria Archaeology will also continue hosting lectures, workshops and programs, conference sessions, and school group lessons related to the historic waterfront and ships. A series of articles and/or technical reports that are both methodological/descriptive and research oriented are also expected.

Updates

Project FAQ

  1. How many ships were discovered in Alexandria recently? Since 2015 archaeologists excavated the remains of four ships on two city adjacent city blocks! Archaeologists excavated the remains of an 18th century vessel at the Hotel Indigo construction site on Union Street in 2015. It is currently undergoing a multi-year conservation process at Texas A&M University's Conservation Research Laboratory. Once conserved, the ship will return to Alexandria. In 2018, archaeologists excavated three more ships just one block south at the Robinson Terminal South Site. These ships are being documented and preserved by the City.
  2. Why were the ships buried there? Centuries ago, Alexandrians purposefully buried the ships to expand the land further into the Potomac River. Research and analysis are ongoing, but the current interpretation is that the ships were merchant vessels.
  3. What artifacts have been recovered from the ships? The ships did not sink full of cargo. They were derelict ships that were cut, used as firewood, and purposefully place in the ground as fill. However, artifacts associated with the piers, wharves, warehouses, and other early industries and residences have been found at the site.
  4. Why couldn’t the ships stay in the ground? Construction plans for the site include an underground parking garage. In fact, it’s because developers needed to excavate a hole for their parking garage that archaeologists found the ships in the first place.

This VACT project is open-ended. Your donation will be processed immediately and your card will be charged regardless of whether the goal is met.