Amici also has seen existing earthwork for Apasus, a Chesepian Indian settlement at Virginia Beach located two miles from the proposed Henrytowne. Historical records suggest an English fortification was built near an abandoned Native American village, so Apasus might have been that village.
He pointed out that a map created by John White in 1587 shows Apasus, but that Apasus is missing on another primary early map, created some 20 years later by John Smith. Henrytowne also is not depicted, but he suggested residents there might have been breaking the law.
"There was a directive issued that colonists were not to mingle with the ‘naturals,’ meaning the Native Americans, but this must have been going on at the site," said Amici, who explained that Chesepian pipe stems were found around the Henrytowne area.
Martin Gallivan, a College of William and Mary anthropologist, told Discovery News that he was not familiar with the particulars of the possible Henrytowne site, but he has found substantial evidence for nearby Native American settlements, such as Chief Powhatan’s capital Werowocomoco. These suggest the Indians had far more sophisticated towns than previously thought.
A replica of Henrytowne is now being constructed three miles away from the Virginia Beach archaeological finds. It is scheduled to open before April 26, when the 400th anniversary of Jamestown will be celebrated.
