The Maddox Branch is a stream that runs from the grounds of American University into the Potomac, forming a bay at Fletcher's Boathouse.
In 2004, archaeologists exploring the valley inspected the root ball of a tree that had recently fallen across the stream (image). Root balls are a way archaeologists can get an easy glimpse of exposed deeper soil and sometimes they uncover buried artifacts. In this case, the root ball they examined contained three spearpoints and a piece of decorated Native pottery. These clues led the archaeologists, working for the National Park Service, to do detailed archaeological studies in the Maddox Branch valley and uncover an extraordinary record of previous Native village life.
Evidence indicates that Natives had lived in the valley, probably in the fall, winter, and spring, collecting nuts, game and fish, during the spring fish runs in the Potomac.
Details on what was found in these digs are included in the link below -
