Fishdam Ford

National Register Listing

Street Address:

SW of Chester off SC 72 (Chester County)

Alternate Name:

38CS49

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NRHP Nomination

Record Number:

S10817712008

Description and Narrative:

Fish weirs have been reported on many of the major streams along the eastern seaboard from Georgia to New York. The size and irregularity of the boulder alignment of the trap at Fishdam Ford would suggest that it is of Native American origin. This location is known as Fishdam Ford deriving its name from the adjacent Native American fish trap. The shallow water, created when the river flows are more resistant bed rock, was ideally suited for the construction of fish traps. The traps were constructed by aligning sloping rows of stone to form a wide V with the mouth facing upstream. A long tapering cane basket was usually placed across a small opening in the apex of the V. The current, flowing into the mouth of the trap, would channel fish into a position from which they could not escape. Fishdam Ford is not only representative of an aboriginal method of fishing that existed in this country long before the coming of the Europeans but the ford also played an important role in the Colonial history of the Carolina back country. Listed in the National Register August 14, 1973.

Period of Significance:

before 1400;18th century

Level of Significance:

State

Area of Significance:

Archeology: Historic - Aboriginal;Archeology: Prehistoric

National Register Determination:

listed

Date of Certification:

August 14 1973

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