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The First Colonists
"This town or settlement lies on the Rappahannoc river 30 miles above the Falls and 30 miles from any Inhabitants. The Germans live very miserably....There is but nine families and they have nine houses built all in a line, and before every house, about 20 feet from the house they have small sheds built for their hogs and their hens, so that the hog stys and houses make a street. "
-John Fontaine from The Journal of John Fontaine.
The first German colonists arrive at Germanna in April of 1714. It is unknown if indentured. The colonists included 13 families and a total of 46 people. These colonists Cut the road from the port at Tappahannock to their new home. The area of Germanna was named in honor of these Germans and Queen Anne. Information from Kerri Barile's dissertation.
There is no archaeological evidence to support or defeat the mineral production surrounding the ford at Germanna. There is no archaeological evidence to add context to the lives of the German immigrants at the fort and town at Germanna.
The majority of available information on the first colonists is based upon geneological records. 
Currently there is speculation about the location of the palisaded fort and surveys are being conducted to expand upon little archaeological evidence. However being over one hundred miles from the epi-center of the colony, Williamsburg little imagination is needed to relate to the conditions faced by the colonists.
Currently there is only speculation about the location of the original palisaded walls. There has been limited archeaological evidence concerning original fort and civilization. Minimal ground penetrating radar surverying has been done but has been unsuccessful.
"...we walked around the town which is palisaded with stakes stuck in the ground, and laid close the one to the other, of substance to bear out a musket shot. There is but nine families and they have nine houses built all in a line, and before every house, about 20 feet from the house they have small sheds built for their hogs and their hens, so that the hog stys and houses make a street. This place that is paled in is a pentagon, very regularly laid out, and in the very centre thre is a blockhouse made with five sides which answers to the five sides of pales or great enclosure."
With the establishement of the site, provisions are made for a road utilizing the ford over the Rapidan. Logistically this reinforces the position of the outpost as well as offers a stepping-off point for further exploration into the Virginia wilderness.
In 1716 an Expedition sets off into the highlands and over into the Shendoah Valley.