The James River Water Authority is under fire for choosing a historically significant Native American site — as its former capitol, the most significant to the Monacan nation — as the location for a new water pumping station.
The site is Rassawek to the Monacans and known as Point of Forks on modern maps. The site is important to the JRWA for probably the same reason it was important to the Monacans: It sits at a strategic location at the confluence of the James and Rivanna rivers.
The pumping project already has received two permits from state agencies and is awaiting two more permits from state and federal agencies.
But its obliteration of the remains of a major Monacan town and disturbance of gravesites is opposed by the tribe and some preservationists.
If it can be done, the site should be saved.
It likely was inhabited as far back as 5,000 years ago. When Capt. John Smith, arrived in Virginia, Rassawek was a fairly large town, worthy of making it onto his 1612 map of the state.
So much of the history and footprint of Virginia’s first peoples has been destroyed. It’s tragic that yet another site is targeted by bulldozers.
But if you’re like us, you’re probably wondering: Why now? Why, after Fluvanna and Louisa counties have been pursuing a joint water project since 2003, are we only recently discovering the drawbacks of the site they eventually selected?
The Monacans have an answer to that.
Marion Werkheiser, the tribe’s attorney in its fight against the project, says that the JRWA reached out to the Monacan nation only after it had picked the site and purchased the land.
Read the entire article at the Daily Progress.