On the bottomlands of the James River, the Bessemer Archaeological Site has features dating to the fourteenth century A.D. Evidence of two distinct but overlapping Indian cultures has been identified including an indigenous Dan River phase palisaded village and an intrusive Page phase village, whose people migrated from the north. The site also preserves well-defined remains of rectangular and circular houses, storage pits, and human burials, along with floral and faunal remains. Further archaeological investigation should add to the knowledge of the region’s prehistoric community organization and cultural interactions.