The Powhatan Town of Arrohateck
Before the Citie of Henricus was established in 1611, the area was home to approximately 250 Native Americans in the Powhatan Town of Arrohteck. At the time, the Powhatan Chiefdom population exceeded 13,000 in coastal Virginia.
The Arrohateck community was centered around the James River which provided a rich ecosystem for hunting and gathering, as well as natural protection. When Sir Thomas Dale arrived in 1611, the Arrohteck welcomed the English and taught them how to survive in the Virginia landscape. They also introduced them to the local crop, tobacco. The amicable relationship between the Arrohateck and the English did not last. While it’s not clear what exactly happened to the tribe, it’s known that tensions had heightened and foreign diseases had been introduced.
Today, visitors to Henricus Historical Park can learn about the Powhatan way of life and the significant impact their culture had on the English colonists. At the re-created Town of Arrohateck, visitors can practice using an oyster shell to help scrape out the charred wood that creates the cavity of a canoe or help pound corn into meal. Visitors can also explore Native American long-houses or “yehakins,” sit on traditional pole beds lined with fur blankets and view artifacts.
Bonus Fact: In 1613, Pocahontas was cared for and educated by Henricus leaders Sir Thomas Dale and Reverend Alexander Whitaker, and was introduced to Christianity. She eventually married John Rolfe who had to write a letter of permission to Sir Thomas Dale.
Click here to learn about the Appamatuck, a native American tribe that was also part of the Powhatan Chiefdom. The Appamatuck lived in an area of Chesterfield that we now know as Bermuda Hundred.
