Excavating at Burch House

On April 30 CCASM excavated a unit at the Burch House in the Village of Port Tobacco.  This activity was part of  Maryland Archaeology Month.  Thirteen people participated in the excavation.

The Burch House site was occupied from the mid-1700's through the twentieth century.  The artifacts recovered will be washed May 14 during the Port Tobacco Market Days.

CCASM, Inc now Tax Exempt

CCASM, Inc's application for tax exempt status was approved.  Effective October 20, 2010, CCASM is tax exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3).  We can receive tax deductible bequests and gifts.

Our subclassification is 509(a)(2) Public Charity.  This is for exempt purpose activity-supported charities.

Discovering Archaeology Day at JPPM

On April 16 Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc had a Public Outreach Table at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum's Discovering Archaeology Day in St Leonard, Maryland.  Despite the rainy day over 60 people attended the event.  Belinda Urquiza, Elsie Picyk, Carol Cowherd, and Phil Angle represented CCASM at the event.  

There was also an opportunity to visit the tables and exhibits of other archaeological organizations.

What Is It?

Knapping (blurry photo, but...)

Knapping

We would like to take Dr. James GIbb for letting us use the Port Tobacco Display and Elsie Picyk for providing the DVD player used to display the CCASM slide show.

A Sunken Ship Under City Streets: The World Trade Center Ship

Nichole Doub

On April 15 the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Friday Night Lecture Series and the Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc (CCASM) co-sponsored Nichole Daub's talk on the 18th century ship discovered beneath the World Trade Center in New York City last summer.  Nichole described how the ship was found and how it was excavated from the site for transfer to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory.  She also explained the importance of conservation, especially for submerged wooden artifacts.

Nichole is the head conservator at the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory that is located at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum in St Leonard, Maryland.

CSM Lecture

Ship at Trade Center

Part of Audience

CCASM Display

Looking at Massive Soil Changes at Port Tobacco

Anne Hayward

At the April 6 CCASM meeting Anne Hayward discussed the soil changes that have occurred in the Port Tobacco area.  A review of historical records documented the increasing sedimentation of the Port Tobacco River.  Recent excavations at Burch House in Port Tobacco indicated layers of gravel that would be consistent with a sedimentation event.  A special analysis of the soil in the various layers provided additional information.

Several CCASM members volunteered at the Burch House excavations last year and remember those gravel layers.

Anne works with Gibb Archaeological Consulting and will be going to graduate school at Penn State this fall.

Attendance: 20