NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. – Wolf Creek is not the only re-creation of an Indian village in Virginia. A larger one stands at Jamestown. A single wigwam, just outside Clarksville, is part of Occoneechee State Park.
Closer to Southwest Virginia, an Indian village stands near the Natural Bridge in the southern section of Rockbridge County.
"There was never a village here," said interpreter Dean Ferguson. "However, this reconstruction is based upon the Buzzard Rock site, which is located in downtown Roanoke."
Like Wolf Creek, the organizers of Natural Bridge’s Monacan Indian Village used post-mold patterns to organize their site.
"And then this is the visual of what we think that village would have looked like," Ferguson said. "We based it upon the science of archeology. We factor in what historical documentation is available. And then we combine that with climate and environment habitat. That’s very important in creating what would be an accurate reconstruction."
Construction on the Monacan Indian Village began in 1999 – with the palisade, lodge and the primary shelters – using native trees for supplies.
"Over the past 10 seasons," Ferguson said, "we have taken down and rebuilt."
Now, Ferguson offers suggestions for building a replica of a Native American fortress.
"Spend the time to develop functional, workable areas to extract the proper natural resources," Ferguson said. "Put it together using the thoughts and concepts that native people would have used – and to remember that plastic and chicken wire simply does not work."
jtennis@bristolnews.com (276) 791-0704
IF YOU GO
Natural Bridge’s Native American village is off I-81 exit 175, Natural Bridge, Va. Call (540) 291-2121 or visit www.naturalbridgeva.com.
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