The excavation of the Shannon Site (44My8) was undertaken during the spring, summer, and fall of 1966 under the auspices of the Virginia State Library and the Archeological Society of Virginia. It was chosen for investigation because of its obvious size and contents, the immediate danger of its destruction by the construction of a golf course with its accompanying buildings, and because no archeological excavation had previously been conducted in this portion of Virginia. Studies of Virginia ceramics and projectile point types had been made in 1950, but these investigations had been confined to surface collections from the area rather than from excavated sites. It was therefore felt that more extensive archelogical work was needed to provide better understanding of the area's prehistoric Indian cultures.

The Montgomery County area before 1750 is almost unknown, but is supposed to have been occupied by Siouan-speaking peoples. The relationship of the Shannon Site with any named Siouan groups is uncertain, but it is interesting to note that early explorers Batts and Fallam mention no Indian activity in the Roanoke River headwaters area during their 1671 travels to the New River. This omission indicates that the area had been abandoned by the Indians before 1670. No Indian activity is recorded until the Draper's Meadow Massacre in 1755.

The Shannon Site village was not occupied during historic times as evidenced by the absence of European trade goods, although the ceramic types and other artifacts indicate use during the Late Pre-Historic or Proto-Historic Period. In 1671, Batts and Fallam noted that a number of Saponi warriors had firearms (Bushnell, 1907). This early record of European trade goods in the possession of the Indians this far inland in Virginia is significant. Since no trade goods were found at the Shannon Site the implications are that it must have been occupied before 1671.

This full and complete report by the project archeologist, Joseph L. Benthall, is replete with illustrations and interesting conclusions as to the early and late periods in which the site was occupied.

Written by Joseph L. Benthall.