Climate Change and Historic Sites in the Chesapeake
Signs of erosion and rising tides at the Werowocomoco site included trees dangling over the water's edge and an old staircase that led directly into the water. Sections of the shoreline have since been treated to prevent further erosion.
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Sea level rise and coastal erosion pose a major threat to cultural resources found along the Chesapeake Bay’s shorelines and riversides.
In the Chesapeake Bay, the waterways are a lifeline, an economic driver, and a place many call home. Historically, this is where many Indigenous people, Colonial settlers, and African Americans lived and worked. With a close cultural tie to the Chesapeake Bay’s waterways, countless Indigenous archeological sites are found close to the water’s edge. Historic sites with ties to Colonial and African American history are also found abundantly along the Bay's shores. This makes much of the Bay's rich cultural heritage vulnerable to rising water levels and erosion.
One example of a site where archeological resources have been partially covered by water is Werowocomoco. This Indigenous archeological site, located along the York River, is managed by the Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Once a center of leadership and trade for the region, much of the town’s activity occurred at the water's edge. Many people made their homes along the shoreline, where canoes carrying visitors and trade goods from afar would arrive. In the time between its Indigenous habitation and the present day, Werowocomoco has lost many feet of shoreline and unknown archeological resources along with it.
It is important for resource managers to recognize these threats and discuss potential solutions with impacted communities. At Werowocomoco, the shoreline is monitored for signs of erosion and a living shoreline works to prevent more soil from washing away. Grasses anchor the soil in place and stones provide a hard barrier to break the incoming waves.
