2026 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-Mar)

CCASM has been working with Charles County at the ongoing Public Archaeology Lab since 2015.  The lab is for processing artifacts recovered from various archaeology initiatives in Charles County -  including artifacts from investigations of sites on County properties, artifacts recovered from savage archaeology in the County, as well as artifacts recovered around the 1970's before the Port Tobacco Courthouse was reconstructed.  Esther Read is the archaeologist in charge.

Location: Courthouse (2nd floor; use South Wing door) and Burch House (both inside and outside) in Historic Port Tobacco Village  map 

  Note:  Public Archeology Day at Port Tobacco (10:30am-3pm)
                    Saturday May 2               
   If you are part of a large group, you need to let us know when you are coming and how many.  

Next dates: 
  Note: (We try to post the latest schedule as soon as we get it - may not get until Monday morning. 
            Being in the field depends on the weather - if it's not raining and not too hot or too cold.)
       
  Monday,   Mar 30  (11 am - 3pm)      Jim Gibb (SERC) with group discussion 
                                                                 about Blacksmith Shop metal objects 
  Monday,   Apr  6   (11 am - 3pm)      Weeding and planting flowers around Burch House
  Monday,   Apr 13  (11 am - 3pm)      possible school group makeup day
  Monday,   Apr 20  (11 am - 3pm)      TBD whether or not to have lab (Esther away)
  Monday,   Apr 27  (11 am - 3pm)      field or lab depending on weather   

On March 23 there was only one school group from Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School in the afternoon.  On a windy afternoon Linda gave the introduction to archaeology and then joined Claudia, Denise , and Esther as the students washed artifacts and mended broken ceramics.

March 16 was another day when the weather forecast cancelled the school visits and lab.  The weather didn't turn out to be that bad, but it is always good to be safe. 

March 9 started much earlier than usual since we needed to set up for a school visit by second graders from Mary B. Neal Elementary School, and they were arriving earlier than usual.  This was the first visit on a Monday for this calendar year.  There were two groups of students - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  Linda gave her introduction to archaeology talk with lots of examples.  Denise, Elsie, Claudia, Evie, and Ned guided the students through two activities - washing artifacts and mending broken ceramics. It was a great day to be outside.   

Once again Lab (Feb 23) was cancelled due to weather.  On Monday March 2 only Esther, Linda, Claudia and Elsie were at the Lab in the Courthouse. Linda, Claudia, and Else sorted artifacts from BF1-BF Lot 68 artifacts (all the miscellaneous artifacts that didn't fit into one of the larger categories) into the groups used for cataloging.  We picked this engraver's plate as the artifact of the day.  We are including it's mirror image in hopes of you being able to read part of it.  Esther worked on organizing Rich Hill artifacts and getting Maxwell Hall artifacts ready for storage at the Mac Lab. 

Engraver's Plate

Mirror Image

Thanks to Elsie for the info and to Linda for the photo,

Well the snow and freezing rain came.  Monday Jan 26 we were either trying to shovel out our driveways or were snow/ice bound.  Monday Feb 2 most roads were better but the Courthouse Parking Lot was not plowed, and we couldn't have lab.  On Monday Feb 9 the Parking Lot had been cleared, but when got there, the walkway was not cleared.  Linda, Denise, Elsie, Malinda, Carol, and Ned joined Esther to gingerly walk over the frozen walkway to the Courthouse,  While the rest of us were inside discussing how we could help with several displays Linda plans to put up in the Courthouse, Ned was outside chopping away the ice so we would have a clear path for getting back to our cars.  It took him several hours to do this.  Thanks Ned!

Tin-glazed Sherd

Monday January 19 we once again divided up.  Claudia and Malinda continued to work on more recently recovered artifacts at Burch House.  Denise, Elsie, Carol, and Linda were at the Courthouse working on artifacts recovered at Port Tobacco around 1970.  Carol and Linda continued cataloging BF1-BF refined earthenware.  Denise and Elsie completed cataloging all the BF1-BF glassware!! Yay!  Look back through the blog to see how long they have been working on this.
The artifact of the day probably should have been the last BF-BF1 glass artifact catalogued, but instead we chose this tin-glazed rim sherd.  The almost pastel bands were unusual.

Monday January 12 after a long holiday break nine volunteers met at the Port Tobacco Courthouse.  Of course, we had to catch up on what we had been doing.  Then Esther started planning for weekend dates when we might have public archaeology events and also suggested other clean-up projects for the Port Tobacco Village.  After lunch we split up and got to chose which activity we would like to do.  Evie, Claudia, Malinda, and Kathy went to Burch House to finish processing the few remaining artifacts at Burch House.  Carol and Denise stayed in the Courthouse and continued the processing of refined ceramics recovered from BF1-BF.  Ned, Elsie, and Tim joined Esther to walk the shoreline from the causeway to the place where years ago a wooden casket had eroded into the river.  They wanted to mark the location as a reference for an upcoming river restoration project this spring.    

2025 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Oct-Dec) -- 2025 Public Archaeology Lab Days (July-Sep) 
  -- 2025 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Apr-Jun) -- 2025 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-Mar)  
2024 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Oct-Dec) --2024 Public Archaeology Lab Days (July-Sep) 
  --2024 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Apr-Jun)  --2024 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-Mar)
2023 Public Archaeology Lab Days (July-Dec) --2023 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-June)
2022 Public Archaeology Lab Days (July-Dec) --2022 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Feb-Jun)
2021 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Mar-Dec)
2020 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Sep-Dec) --2020 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-Mar)
2019 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jul-Dec)   --2019 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-June)
2018 Public Archaeology Lab Days (July-Dec) --2018 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-June)
2017 Public Archaeology Lab Days (July-Dec) --2017 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-June)
2016 Public Archaeology Lab Days (July-Dec) --2016 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-June)
2015 Public Archaeology Lab Days

 

An Afternoon at the Charles County HITS Expo - 2026

On Saturday March 21 Charles County Public Schools once again held its History, Industry, Technology, and Science (H.I.T.S.) Expo at St Charles High School in Waldorf, Maryland.  There were forty-five tables and six classroom activities/presentations sponsored by different organizations and school groups with CCASM having two of the tables.  A lot was going on with a variety of hands-on activities to engage the students (and the adults).

CCASM's tables included a display depicting the various archaeological skills related to history and science as well as a display with most aspects of an investigation from digging shovel test pits to writing the report.  But most of our table space was devoted to two activities.  One was called "Archaeologists Dig for Clues" and the other was called "What is it?"  We had fun working with the students and their parents as they completed the activities.

Happy to be at the HITS Expo

Completing What Is It? test

Learning about artifacts 

Thanks to Claudia, Denise, Linda, and Carol for being there to interact with the students and their parents.  Also thanks to Ned for helping to set up.

Click to see the winner of the special History Day award sponsored by the Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc.

2026 Charles County History Day

On March 21, 2026 the combined Charles County Public Schools Annual History Day  and the Annual Science Fair (now referred to as H.I.T.S.) was once again held at the St Charles High School in Waldorf, Maryland.  CCASM sponsored one of the special History awards.  The award was $50 and a one-year membership in CCASM.  

 

 

This year's history topic was "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History".  

The CCASM special History award went to Amina Ziden for the display “Maryland Women’s Suffrage Movement”.   Amina attends Matthew Henson Middle School. 

Congratulations, --- Amina!

We normally also sponsor a Science Fair award, but we did not have judges this year.  An organization has to provide the judges for their award.

Revolutionary Homefront in Charles County

Esther Doyle Read

At the March 19 CCASM Meeting Esther Read reviewed the events at the start of the Revolutionary War and how people in Charles County became aware of the events and how they were affected.   Of special interest was the 1774 Articles of Association that banned importation of goods from Britain, Ireland, and other territories in the British Empire because one Port Tobacco man did acquire goods that were banned under the Articles.  Esther relayed the story of James Graham, a Port Tobacco tailor, that resided on Lot 4 in Port Tobacco.  It turns out that the Swann Oyster House Site that CCASM have been helping to investigate is on Lot 4.  

Esther Doyle Read is the Archaeologist for Charles County Planning and Growth.  She is also an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Ancient Studies at UMBC

Once again this was a hybrid meeting with most of the people and the speaker attending in person.  Thanks to Jim for allowing us to use his Zoom account, and thanks to Peggy and Natalia for providing the hotspot.   

Attendance: 20  (5 via Zoom)

 

Archaeology in the Middle School Classroom

Sarah Mason
and Julia Berg

At the February 19 CCASM Meeting Julia Berg and Sarah Mason gave examples of how archaeological evidence could make the past tangible and meaningful for students in grades 6–8 (and possibly for us adults too).  Julia showed various lesson examples and hands-on activities that gave sixth graders an introduction to archaeology as well as providing additional information for their ancient civilizations classes.  Sarah showed how she used photos and artifacts from Montpelier to blend archaeology and history as eighth graders explored the causes and impacts of slavery in colonial times. 

Julia and Sarah talked about more ideas and projects than we can summarize in this blog posting.   We would recommend you hearing one of their talks in person.  

Julia Berg and Sarah Mason are middle school teachers and educational consultants (Digging Deeper Educational Consultants.) 

Once again this was a hybrid meeting with the speakers who live on the Eastern Shore presenting via Zoom but with most of the people attending in person.  Thanks to Jim for allowing us to use his Zoom account, and thanks to Peggy and Natalia for providing the hotspot.   

Almost ready for the meeting to start

Attendance: 12  (4 via Zoom)