The Archaeology of Colington Island

Abstract

Colington Island is one of the chain of barrier islands which form the Outer Banks along the coast of North Carolina, separating the vast sounds of estuarine system from the Atlantic Ocean. It lies on the sound side of Bodie Island in Dare County, and was once a part of that island when sea level was lower than at present, Now it is separated from Bodie Island by the narrow passage of Colington Creek on the east and Kitty Hawk Bay on the north.

The Outer Banks are a fragile barrier constantly changing through time in response to the dynamics of nature, and their form in any synchronic segment along the time continuum is the result of a momentary balance between the dynamics of rising sea level, winds, storms, tides and sedimentary processes. Although never completely stable, the Banks have maintained their current general form for approximately two to three thousand years, according to geological estimates. Archaeological studies also support that conclusion, having found no evidence of human use on the present surface of the islands prior to about 1000 B.C. and frequent use only within the past 2000 years. Colington Island is no exception to this; its initial occupation by native Americans probably occurred sometime between 200 and 300 A.D. and continued at least until the 14th century occupation by Algonkian people of the coastal region.

There is a vast difference in the appearance of the island's surface of 200 A.D. and at the present; the original inhabitants would certainly be amazed, probably appalled, by the modern appearance, and perhaps some of the modern residents would prefer to see Colington as it was eighteen centuries ago. Human culture is, however, as changeable as nature, and the island has changed in response to both nature and culture. This paper describes the earlier inhabitants of Colington Island from about 200 to 1400 A.D., adding another chapter to the continuing history of the island and the coastal area.