2026 Port Tobacco Market Day

The Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco's Seventeenth Annual Market Day was held May 2 in Historic Port Tobacco Village.  CCASM was there as well as local craft vendors, the garden club plant sale, a white elephant sale, and tables for various nonprofits.  And what would a market day outside a courthouse be without musicians?  Everything from banjos to the youth orchestra.  

CCASM put out its display highlighting some of the history of Port Tobacco including some of the results from archaeology done around 2008 in the Historic Port Tobacco Village and most of the visitors stopped by to look at this display.  We have had the display for a lot of years, but it always seems to attract people.  A visit to the CCASM tent would not be complete without there being some activity.  This year we had  an activity that highlighted the three different type of ceramics- earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain.  A potter stopped by to talk to us about some of the ceramics.  So we had an opportunity to learn.  We also had two flag "plates" for people to mend, but only had one person who tried.  We talked to so many people who expressed an interest in archaeology.  It was a very good day (in spite of being so cold). 

CCASM's Table

Public Archaeology is that way

Since the ASM Field Session will be in Charles County again this year, we made sure to tell everyone about this unique opportunity.  In case people didn't know what people do a field session, we had a display showing what to expect, and a number of people scanned the QR code.

Public Archaeology was occurring at the same time at the Swann Site to the southwest of the Courthouse.  We directed a number of people to the site where CCASM members Denise and Elsie were assisting Esther Doyle Read, the Charles County Archaeologist.  

Esther with CCASM volunteers (some helping, some watching)
and a boy that volunteered most of the day.

Thanks to Linda, Claudia, and Carol for representing CCASM at this event.  Also thanks to Linda and Doug for providing the table and the large tent.

 

2026 Public Archaeology Days (Apr-Jun)

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 

  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,   May  4  (11 am - 3pm)       In field- Swann Site- (depends on weather) and Lab
 Monday,   May 11  (11 am - 3pm)      In field or Lab (depends on weather)
 Saturday,  May 16  (11 am - 3pm)     In field Mulberry Grove (MD House and Garden Tour)
 Monday,   May 18  (11 am - 3pm)      In field or Lab (depends on weather)

May 2 Denise and Elsie volunteered with Esther at the Public Archaeology Day going on during Market Day.  Actually Market Day was 9-2 and Public Archaeology was 10-4.  We continued troweling two plow scars.  Some people did visit and one boy volunteered for most of the afternoon and got to screen and to trowel.  Here is a photo (that is also shown on the Market Day blog).

Near the end of day

April 27 Esther was at Rich Hill to dig small units for the Ghost House footers.  The dig went well.  We opened two units but did not finish. We'll be going back, not sure of the dates yet. We have through the end of July to get this done. Thanks to Ned for mowing around the units.  Melinda and Claudia helped with the set up and ran the screens. We have three new volunteers who came out to help.  
Thanks to Esther for the info.
(Note: Rich Hill still has poison ivy, and the roots that may show up in the screens.  Claudia and Melinda were the only ones willing to possibly get poison ivy, and they did.)

April 20 while Esther was away, Linda showed Denise, Elsie, Claudia, and Carol the possible activities she would be using at the "CCASM" talk she is giving at the Library this coming Saturday and next Thursday.  We had thought one would be more for children and one would be more for teens and adults, but the library advertised both for children.  Then Linda reviewed the new annual Photo contest that SRPT is having.  Linda has been quite busy.  Then after lunch it was back to cataloging 1970s PT artifacts.  Elsie and Denise worked on miscellaneous while Carol and Linda worked on pearlware.

April 13 was an interesting day at Burch House.  Outside Linda, Malinda, and Elsie created a flower garden behind Burch House in an area that had been cleared of weeds.  They laid down cardboard, covered that with soil, and scattered lots of different types of flower seeds in a relatively small area.  It will be interesting to see how this turns out.  Inside Carol and Esther looked at nails recovered from behind Stagg Hall and verified that most of the nails had been machine cut - somewhat of a surprise.

The April 6 Lab day was part clean up day and a little bit of lab work at Burch House.  The inside of Burch House was in a little bit of disarray after the "Rich Hill" furniture that was being stored at Burch House was finally able to be moved to Rick Hill.  Linda, Denise, Elsie, Claudia, Evie, Kathy, Malinda, and Carol were there to help - rearranging the remaining furniture, dusting, and sweeping up (a lot of stink bugs).  Elsie and Claudia went outside to weed the area near the road.  Linda, Denise, and Evie inventoried the bags and other supplies and did miscellaneous other things.  Kathy, Malinda, and Carol started combining and processing three screens for FS23 from Swann Site.  

2026 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-Mar)
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

 

CCASM Talks at Public Library

April is Maryland Archaeology Month and is also Charles County Archaeology Month.  So April was the month CCASM chose to give a talk at the Charles County Public Library.  

Linda Talley

Linda Talley put together a talk entitled "Things Left Behind" and gave it on Saturday April 25 (3pm) at the Waldorf West Branch and April 30 (6pm) at the main library in La Plata.  The library advertised the talks as being for children and tweens.  At least fifteen children and adults came to each talk.  

Not only did Linda give a talk, she also brought tools that archaeologist use including a shaker screen.  And there were activities at the end suitable for different ages.  Elsie, Carol and Doug were there to help as needed.

Thanks, Linda.
(Sorry I didn't get that great a photo.  Archaeology is actually lots of fun.) 

2026 ASM Field Session Returns to Charles County

The Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc (ASM) in cooperation with Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) will return to the Teagues Point archeological site (18CH1005) in Charles County for its 2025 Tyler Bastian Field Session from May 22 - June 1, 2025.

The Field Session is to introduce lay persons to archeological methods and to teach Maryland's past through hands-on involvement while making meaningful contributions to the study of Maryland archeology.  Survey, excavation, feature definition, and lab work will be taking place on site. 

The site was a mystery and was only assigned a site number in September 2023.  In 2025 ASM held its annual Field Session there in a possible 17th century site, and we found lots of features and artifacts.  This year we are going back to learn more.  

For more background on the site as well as more information on the field session - what to bring, and anything else you want to know about the field session, 
        check out  2026 ASM Field Session 
 
This is also the site where you can register.  Pre-registration is encouraged.

Selected info about the field session--
The usual work day begins at 8:30 am (except for the first day when it is 10:30) and lasts until around 4:00 pm with an hour break for lunch.
Things to bring include drinking water, bug spray, sun screen, hat, rain gear, work gloves, your lunch, and a folding chair for lunch time.  A What to Bring Guide and directions will be mailed to registrants.

Other things happening (more details to come)

• one or more Lunchtime Lectures (on site)
• Annual Spencer O. Geasey Memorial Lecture   (one evening off-site)
• The annual “feast”   Saturday, May 30 (4 pm)

Cost 
If you attend/pay for 3 days you can attend additional days for free (but you still need to register.)

• ASM Member              $20/day  (maximum $60)
• Non-ASM Member      $25/day  (maximum  $75)
• Student (under 18)          $5/day  (maximum $15)
         
•  2025 Field Session T-Shirt   $25 (need to pre-order)
  

Note: On-line payment will be via Zeffy.  At the end there is a field where you can donate to Zeffy or not (your choice).  Unlike PayPal, ASM does not have to pay to use Zeffy (that is only for non-profits).  

We will have eleven days to investigate the site, and then the units will be filled in.  There are currently no future plans to return to the site.  The artifacts not washed at the field session will be washed, and all artifacts will be catalogued.  A report covering both Field Sessions will be written.  The report or at least an update for the Field Session will be presented at  a future ASM meeting.

Lodging:  Lodging Options

Directions to site (abbreviated):
From MD-5 South 

Take the MD-231 exit (Prince Frederick/Hughesville)
At first traffic circle take third exit (into next traffic circle)
At next traffic circle take first exit onto MD-231
Continue on MD-231 for 5.2 miles and turn left on Maxwell Drive
(If you see the Pautuxent River, you have gone too far.)
Go to the end of Maxwell Drive  (There should be signs.)

From MD-4 South

Turn west (at traffic light) onto MD-231
Continue on MD-231 for 7.1 miles and turn left on Maxwell Drive
(Maxwell Drive is just past Serenity Farm)
Go to the end of Maxwell Drive  (There should be signs.)

CCASM is a chapter of ASM.

2026 Annual Business Meeting and Potluck plus Talk and Tour

Rich Hill

On Saturday May 9 CCASM will hold its Annual Business Meeting and Potluck Supper for the whole family and friends at the Historic Rich Hill.

Date:         Saturday May 9  (5-7pm)  
Location :  Historic Rich Hill
                   Rich Hill Farm Rd, Bel Alton, MD 20611 

Annual Meeting followed by

Talk Topic: The Rehabilitation of Historic Rich Hill
Speaker:      Mike Mazzeo    

 and Tour of Rich Hill      

The May meeting is the CCASM annual meeting at which you can find out what CCASM has been doing over the past year.  This is also an election year, and the results will be reported at the meeting.

Everyone is to bring food to share.  You may want to bring your own beverages.  
Email ccasm2010@gmail.com with what you are bringing, and we will post it on the Blog calendar (for this May 9 event).

Unless it rains, we will be meeting outside.  There are no picnic tables.  Various members are bringing tables for the food and possibly some additional tables and chairs.  But just in case bring a camping chair and be prepared to eat while holding your plate.

Potlucks are always a great time to interact with people we may or may not see that often.