CONTACT ON THE JERSEY SHORE: ANALYSIS OF EUROPEAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN PRESENCE AT THE WEST CREEK SITE DURING THE CONTACT PERIOD

Abstract

This research addresses the identification of a Native American presence at the 18th century homestead of the Pharo family in coastal New Jersey, and what it reveals about life during the Contact period. Various stratigraphic contexts were excavated at the site that contain both European-made and Native-made artifacts. The foundation of this research is the definition and assessment of the contemporaneity of excavated contexts that include colonial and native-made artifacts at the West Creek site. By examining these contexts, conclusions can be drawn about the persistence of Native American technologies and settlement patterns into the 18th Century, as well as the interactions between Europeans and Native Americans at the site. Spatial distribution analysis utilizing ArcGIS technology was used to visualize the distribution of diagnostic artifact types throughout the site. Individual distribution maps were created for each of the selected artifact types. These maps were then compared to discern any site-wide patterns that exist. The spatial analysis conducted as part of this project demonstrates that Native Americans occupied areas at the West Creek site very close to one another. Native Americans and the Pharo family were interacting with one another on a regular basis for at least a short period of time. These interactions show no evidence of being violent or forceful. Despite the evidence of interactions, the Native Americans residing at the West Creek site maintained many Late Woodland technologies, including ceramics and projectile points. Furthermore, Native Americans continue to settle in settings similar to what is seen during the Late Woodland period.