VOLUME 17 // ISSUE 3 FALL 2017
NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL LAND TRUST
COASTLINES Risk & Reward Highlighted area
SALMON CREEK Where Natural And Cultural History Converge “This is one of the most exciting things I’ve heard about in a long time,” stated Alan Craig, as he listened to Clay Swindell, an archaeologist with the Museum of the Albemarle, explain the possible significance of a fragment of pottery he held in his hand. Alan, one of the Coastal Land Trust’s Conservation Ambassadors (advisors), along with Board members and staff took a tour of a 1,000-acre property in Bertie County in May. Michael Flannelly, one of the property owners, guided half the group on a boat trip along 3.5 miles of Salmon Creek, the property’s southern boundary. While Michael and his group observed an impressive array of wildlife—Bald Eagle, Wood Ducks, Prothonotary Warblers—along a scenic backdrop of towering cypress trees, the others stood with Clay on another portion of the property transfixed on the pottery shard. Clay explained that on this point of land situated at the confluence of the Chowan River and Salmon Creek, archaeologists such as himself and Dr. Nicholas Luccketti, with James River Institute for Archaeology and the First Colony Foundation, have uncovered artifacts that may reveal clues to a 400+year old mystery the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. Excavation work on this site, now known as “Site X,” has revealed not only numerous Algonkian Indian artifacts, but also English artifacts attributable to the pre-Colonial period and indicative of settlement by the Roanoke colonists, such as Surrey-Hampshire English Border
www.CoastalLandTrust.org
Dr. Nicolas Luccketti of James River Institute for Archeology shows Board members pictures of the artifacts found on Site X.
Ware (e.g., the pottery shard). Based on the archaeological findings, historical site description, documentary and cartographic (John White’s c. 1585-1587 Virginea Pars map) evidence, First Colony Foundation believes this is where a group of survivors from the Lost Colony may have relocated after arriving at Roanoke Island in 1587. Why does Clay believe that the pottery found at Site X was from the Lost Colonists versus later settlers to the area? He pointed out that “the pottery is a good time marker because the English supplier changed in the Salmon Creek, continued on page 4
When the Coastal Land Trust identifies a new conservation property we generally don’t talk much about it until it is acquired. Details are rarely publicized because it is important to respect the privacy of landowners and partners throughout the conservation process and the search for funding, which often takes several years to complete. Last year our staff compiled a list of the Coastal Land Trust’s Top 40 priority projects, including Salmon Creek, to guide our long-term conservation work throughout the Coastal Plain. The real estate market is rebounding, endangering some of our coast’s most significant lands, while at the same time, the state is reducing funds for conservation. The ability of the Coastal Land Trust to conserve parcels on our Top 40 list will be dependent on willing sellers, and the availability of public conservation funding. Salmon Creek is such a remarkable property under immediate threat of sale on the open market that the Coastal Land Trust Board agreed that this project justified the risk of taking out a loan to save the land before all our permanent funding is in place. This is a first for us, but there is urgency with this parcel, which is permitted for a 212-slip marina and 2,800 housing units. It won’t wait two years to be secured for conservation. You can help protect Salmon Creek and reduce the risk of losing more of the Top 40. Increase your annual membership gift this year and invite others to join the Land Trust. Make additional donations to support quick action to protect the most urgent projects like Salmon Creek. And make your voice heard—tell your legislators that you support more, not less, state funding for land and water conservation! A healthy coastal environment rewards us all and offers wonderful new places to enjoy nature and coastal history — and mystery, too! Thank you for being a valued partner in coastal conservation.
Camilla M. Herlevich Executive Director
Ann Cary Simpson President
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