Mayfield Civil War Fort
Unearthing the Past
Archeology is the detective work of history. Evidence recovered from the soil often provides valuable clues for learning how people lived, worked, and died, especially when documentary sources are scarce.
Excavations were conducted at the Hooe House site by the Archeology Society of Virginia (ASV) in 1984-85. The fort site was excavated during a nine-month period in 1987 by Thunderbird Archeological Associates. Additional fieldwork, including a cross-section of the earthwork wall, was carried out in 2000 by ASV volunteers directed by Rivanna Archeology, Inc. During the construction phase, further archeological work was conducted by Rivanna in 2001 under the direction of Dr. Benjamin Ford.
These digs revealed some of the physical evidence left behind over several thousand years. Native American projectile points (spearheads) were recovered as were pieces of pottery, glass, and iron farm implements used during the Hooe family period. Ford uncovered evidence of two post-holes inside the fortification wall. He conjectured that the holes dated to the late eighteenth century, and may be the remains of the barn belonging to the Hooe family. In addition, Civil War bullets, accouterment plates, and belt buckles were found.
The acquisition of the Mayfield site within The Manassas Museum System ensures the protection and further scholarly research of this historic archeological site.
Marker can be reached from the intersection of Battery Heights Boulevard and Quarry Road, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
