Archaeologists working for a private developer of a potential new housing development recently uncovered a "what is it" at the site of a Civil War encampment. The structure has baffled both local and regional archeological experts.
The area in which the structure was discovered "is very significant since it is the location of a well known plantation, Cameron, as well as near Fort Williams, a Civil War fortification," said Pamela J. Cressey, Alexandria city archeologist.
"Many Union soldiers were stationed in the area and this is the only structure of its kind found in Alexandria," said Cressey. "Archaeologists in the region and throughout the nation are currently being contacted to determine if they have encountered a similar structure."
While working in the area of the former Cameron Plantation just off Quaker Lane, Thunderbird Archeological Associates, uncovered a double brick fire box connected to a brick flue. "While the function of the structure is still conjectural, we do have a good idea of how it worked," said Steven Shephard, assistant archeologist, City of Alexandria. "After building a wood fire in the fire boxes, heat was channeled through the brick flue up an incline."
At least that was one speculation last Friday as various experts viewed the structure. Other alternative ideas put forth included:
* It was used at the plantation before the Civil War, possibly to heat a greenhouse or provide heat for some processing function.
* It was constructed by Union troops during the Civil War for use as a heat source for a winter encampment.
* It was constructed by Union forces during the Civil War to make or process something that required a heat source such as a bakery or other food element.
THE SITE OF THE FIND, once known as Cooper's Hill, has a long local history dating to the early 1800's. First it was a plantation and then it was a Union Army site when the army confiscated the property from Colonel Samuel Cooper, a West Point graduate, upon his joining the Confederate Army.
When the Federal forces took control in 1861, a fort was built on the site of the plantation house and named "Fort Traitor," according to historical records. It was the only fort in the Washington area to be named after a Confederate officer. All other were named for Union officers, records state.
The name was eventually changed from Fort Traitor to Fort Williams. The land was ultimately repurchased by friends of Cooper and conveyed back to the family after the Civil War.
THE MYSTERY find takes on added interest as Alexandria prepares to join in on Virginia Archeological Month in October. Special events are scheduled for the month to teach visitors of all ages about archeology in Alexandria.
Beginning Saturday, October 4, there will be an Art Safari Museum Open House at 105 N. Union St. That same day, City archaeologists will conduct a tour of the Sutter's Hill excavation site located on the grounds of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Other events include:
* Saturday, October 11 - Alexandria Heritage Trail Bike Tour beginning at 10 A.M.
* Saturday, October 18 - "What Lies Beneath Our Feet" - A guided walking tour of Old Town.
* Saturday, October 25 - "Stone Ground: A History of Union Mills."
* Saturday, October 31 - "Historic Alexandria Hauntings: A Search for Blackbeard's Skull."
INFORMATION AND DETAILS about the various events are available through the Alexandria Archeological Museum located at 105 N. Union St., #327. Phone: 703-838-4399.
In November, Alexandria will host a number of Colonial historians and archaeologists at a conference to explore new research about historic resources throughout the Potomac River Valley.
The conference is scheduled for November 18-20, at The Lyceum and will include field trips to additional sites in Maryland and Virginia. Speakers will provide an overview of the period from the before the European contact through the American Revolution.
Those interested in attending should contact the Office of Historic Alexandria to be placed on a mailing list for conference literature. Their phone number is 703-838-4554.