Slaves may have lived downtown [email protected] 247-7821 July 31, 2004 HAMPTON -- An artifact recently found downtown could prove that slaves lived in the area in the 18th century. Historians say they have found a cowrie bead - used as currency in West Africa in the 1700s - in an area that was the basement of an English building, said Jim Hollomon, the administrator at the Hampton History Museum. The site is slated to house a building city planners hope will serve as the signature of downtown's revitalization. Monday, archeologists are scheduled to begin a 12-week dig on the property, which is along Settlers Landing Road between Wind and King streets. The site, known among city officials as the Goodyear site because a tire dealership was there for years, is scheduled for some of the first redevelopment work next year. City officials expect a developer to construct, with some city funding, a prominent building with shops and restaurants on the first floor with condos and offices above that. The city is poised to spend millions of dollars in the next few years fostering development along the waterfront. They hope that after hundreds of people move into new apartments and condos that more restaurants and retail shops will follow. Hollomon said proof of slaves has previously been discovered where Hampton University is now, but this is the first indication that slaves also lived on the western bank of the Hampton river when the city was a bustling port. "This is only an indication," Hollomon said. "It could have been a souvenir from someone in that period. It's not absolutely proof by any means, but it's a good indication of it." In addition to the cowrie beads, Hollomon said some kitchenware has been found. Archeological work on other sites along Settlers Landing have produced similar artifacts. "It is a fairly rich 18th-century site," Hollomon said. "We're hoping to find some exciting pieces."