Native Fish Dam Survey

This project is still in its infancy and will begin to document structures created in Southwest Virginia's rivers by Native Americans.  These V-shaped formations are weirs, or fish dams, and would have funneled fish downstream into a net or basket.  

Amazingly, they have survived hundreds of years of floods at the bottoms of our rivers and are still visible today.  This project will involve undergraduates and incorporate drone imaging, field surveys, and archaeological reports submitted to the VA Department of Historic Resources. 

Research is made possible by a $2,000 grant from the VT College of Natural Resources & Environment instructional support fund.