A ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday near Purton Bay in Gloucester to dedicate the preservation of the site of Werowocomoco, according to Randy Jones of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

Werowocomoco was a village that served as the political center of the Powhatan chiefdom, and the site of the meeting of Chief Powhatan, Captain John Smith and Pocahontas.

Long lost to history, in 2003 Werowocomoco was identified by archaeologists and is being preserved through a conservation easement.

Gov. Bob McDonnell, Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Douglas Domenech, director Kathleen S. Kilpatrick of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and other officials will join property owners Bob and Lynn Ripley in a ceremonial signing of the easement document, placing the site under conservation with the Department of Historic Resources. A number of representatives from area Native American tribes will also be present.

Pamunkey Chief Kevin Brown, on behalf of th...