Processing Native American Site Artifacts - Part 2

Once the artifacts have been removed from the ground the work has just begun.  The artifacts have to be washed and later sorted, counted, and cataloged.  Only then can we begin to try to understand what they are telling us.

AT LAST!!  Tuesday Dec 10 Carol sorted and counted the remaining artifacts.  We still need to enter the information into the catalog (Excel spreadsheet).  So far over 11,000 artifacts have been entered into the catalog, and there are several thousand waiting to be entered.  Of these about 2700 were from the STPs.

Thanks to Peggy, Elsie, Joshua, Jim S, Barbara K, and Carol for all their work processing the artifacts from the test units.  

Also thanks to Elsie, Peggy, Steve, Rich, Joshua, Barbara R, Carol S, Barbara K, and Carol C for all their work on the artifacts from the STPs. 

Dec 5 Peggy and Carol processed three more bags.  Normally I don't include photos of artifacts, but we found what appears to be a stone bead.  If so, it is the first one we have found here.  For those familiar with the site it was near the bottom of Stratum 3 in Unit 2.  The artifact was placed inside a 1 cm square and photographed using a digital microscope.  We were unable to remove all the dirt.  Let us know what you think it is.  (Jim said it was probably natural, but he would need to see it.)

On Nov 21 Peggy and Carol finished three more bags.  We are getting there.  And we also took time to look at the fish.  Carol pointed out that the blue gouramis were in breeding colors.  Nice.

Elsie and Carol were at it again on Nov 7.  The clock had not been reset, and we stopped thirty minutes early.  But we still got a lot done and actually learned a little more about identifying flakes.

Elsie and Carol finished another three bags of artifacts on Oct 31.  And we finally got a photo of Elsie working.

Oct 24 it was just Peggy and Carol processing the artifacts.  We finished three bags, but there was plenty of time to watch the Canada Geese on the river.

Elsie, Peggy, and Carol continued counting and measuring the artifacts Oct 17.  Also we looked at a manual describing various lithics.  And there is always something interesting to talk about.

Oct 3 Elsie, Jim, and Carol were back sorting and counting artifacts that included a couple of projectile points as well as several mend-able pottery sherds.  Carol showed off her first attempt to make pottery - not that great.  But the pot had been made from clay obtained near the site and had been fired in an open fire.  

We have finished washing all the artifacts!!  At the Sept 26 lab Peggy, Joshua, and Carol washed all the remaining artifacts (in the 3 buckets shown with the Aug 22 lab).   We came up with a different way to wash all the fire cracked rocks found in the FCR feature. 

And here are the final artifacts that needed to be washed. 

On Sept 19 Peggy and Carol continued the work.  Of interest was a possible knife - quite nice.  And Peggy brought figs to share.

Everyone working in the lab Sept 5 got an eggplant to take home.  Just one of the perks of helping process the artifacts.  Also it's always fun to hear what everyone is doing (besides archaeology).  Jim, Peggy, Elsie, and Carol counted and weighed artifacts from six strata/levels.  The work progresses.

Partially Processed

Needs to be Washed

Finally on Aug 22 we finished presorting all the remaining washed artifacts.   Now we only need to count and weigh them (and maybe recheck the sorting).

Then we will still have a few more small bags to wash.  Not that much.  At least there will be no box flats on the floor to weave around while our company is here.

A photo of the artifacts we have already processed was not included, but there are four crates with bags of sorted, counted, and weighed artifacts from the test units as well as nine boxes of processed and cataloged artifacts from the STPs.

On Thursday Aug 8 Josh joined Carol and Elsie as we continued to work on the learning about the artifacts - especially about the pottery.

Carol and Elsie worked on the collection Thursday July 25.  We are now dividing the process into two parts.  Carol was doing the initial sorting and bagging.  Then Elsie did the final sorting, counting, and weighing.  It makes it seem like we are accomplishing more.  Also it turned out to be a better learning experience.

For the Saturday July 13 lab day see Washing Native American Site Artifacts

Thursday June 13 Peggy, Jim, and Carol spent one more morning sorting and counting one of the larger unit/stratum.  The number of washed artifacts that need to be sorted, counted, etc. has been greatly reduced and has freed up 'drying' space needed by artifacts yet to be washed.  We still have several buckets of artifacts that need to be washed.

I finally remembered to take a photo on a day that Elsie volunteered.  Thursday June 6 Elsie along with Jim, Josh, and Carol processed artifacts.  It took us a little while to get back in the swing, but we ended up completing four unit/stratum.

Peggy and Carol were back at it on May 23, but this time they were sorting and counting the artifacts.  They were able to process two unit/stratum.

On May 16 once again it was just Peggy and Carol.  We were able to complete one of the larger unit/stratum as well as Feature 2 (upper level). 

Jim, a new CCASM member, joined Peggy, Josh, and Carol in washing artifacts on May 9.  We washed the artifacts recovered from Unit 10,  the unit we had excavated in a new area, in order to get a better feel for that area.  And we had time to wash artifacts from several other unit/ strata.  Also it was interesting to share stories of far away lands.  Later while moving the washed artifacts, I discovered one partial fish scale.  Due to the soil acidity, we have not been finding much faunal material-maybe one or two shells.  

On April 25 we washed several unit/strata that had fewer artifacts.  Elsie, Peggy, Josh, and Carol got a lot done.  It seemed to go faster than previous times.  (For some reason I keep forgetting to take pictures the days Elsie volunteers.  Maybe next time I will remember.)

It was just Peggy and Carol on April 4.  (I had forgotten to update the dates until late Wednesday.)  Even so we were able to complete all of Unit 2, stratum 2.  We are still working on the strata where the washed artifacts needed two "drying" boxes.  

On Thursday March 28 Elsie, Peggy, Josh, and Carol worked on Unit 2, stratum 2.  It took almost four hours to sort and count all of the artifacts in this stratum.  However, part of the time we were actually trying to learn more about identifying the various artifacts.

At some point the artifacts that are washed need to be sorted, counted, and weighed so they can be cataloged.  On Thursday March 21 Peggy, Josh, and Carol worked on one stratum - Unit 5, stratum 2 - and after about three hours they almost finished.   There were hundreds of flakes.  Of course, there is always time to check things out.  Josh matched a point tip from this unit/stratum with a base from Unit 4, stratum 2.  The northwest corner of Unit 4 is the southeast corner of Unit 5, so the units are close.

Peggy, Elsie, and Carol continued washing artifacts on Thursday Feb 28.  It's interesting to get a better look at what is being found even though it does take a long time to wash all those flakes.

On Thursday Feb 21 Peggy and Carol started washing the artifacts recovered from the excavation units.  Bags from three of the nine unit/strata were washed.  The boxes in the picture contain the washed artifacts from one stratum.  One box only contains fire cracked rock.  The other box has the pottery sherds, projectile points, and other lithics including lots and lots of small tertiary flakes.

Archeaology and African Americans at Mount Calvert

Mike Lucas

December 12 Michael Lucas talked about the past and current archaeology being done on an eighteenth and nineteenth century tobacco plantation.  The plantation site is located in the Mount Calvert Historical and Archaeological Park in Prince George’s County.  Archaeology done in the 1990's on two sites recovered artifacts from the plantation and from a tenant site.  Mike showed artifacts that could have belonged to slaves.

Recently a magnetometer survey was done in what is believed to be the slave area of the plantation.  Archaeology in this area has begun, and Mike showed some of the artifacts recovered.  Work will continue in this area over the next year(s).   To volunteer or for more information you can e-mail Mike at Michael.Lucas@pgparks.com.

Mike is an archaeologist at Prince George's County, Natural and Historic Research Division of  Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission.

Setting Up

Barbara Kane handed out the CCASM polo shirts to those that had purchased them.  Below Peggy and George are holding one up.  It is still possible for others to purchase a shirt.  We would like to thank Barbara for initiating this project and doing all the work with the embroiderer to make it happen.

   

Attendance: 10

Investigating Pomonkey North Site - Small Flakes, Broken Pottery, and an Opportunity to Learn

Carol Cowherd

CCASM members have been investigating the Native American Pomonkey North Site since February 2012.  Carol Cowherd shared what we have been learning at this site.  This included the artifact distribution as well as photos of representative artifacts from the shovel test pits.  Then there were photos of the artifacts we were finding in specific test unit stratum - some with lots of small flakes and others with lots of broken pottery.  Carol also showed CCASM members in action in the field as they dug shovel test pits and test units as well as in the lab as they processed the artifacts found.  And all this was linked back to the project's research goals.

Attendance: 11

2013 ASM Fall Meeting

On Saturday November 9 the Mid-Potomac Chapter of ASM hosted the Archeological Society of Maryland, Inc (ASM) 2013 Fall Meeting at the Agricultural History Farm in Derwood, MD.  The CCASM members attending were Elsie Picyk, Jim Gibb, and Carol Cowherd.  Carol gave the CCASM chapter report during the business meeting.

It's always fun to catch up with others from around the state and hear what they are doing.  But the highlight of the meeting was the talks.  Below is the list.  If you get a chance to hear them at some other venue, you should try to go.  You won't be disappointed.

• Tidelocks to Terminus: Highlights from the 9-Year Archaeological and Historical Study of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
  Stephen R. Potter, PhD
   
• The Bussard Farm Kitchen
  Heather Bouslog, Montgomery Parks archaeologist
   
• Archaeology at the “Madison House” in Brookeville, MD
  Bob Hines, Archaeology Director, Brookeville’s War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemorations
   
• Update on the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery Field Session Site
  Jim Gibb, PhD
   
• Update on the Biggs Ford Field Session Site
  Charlie Hall, PhD., Maryland State terrestrial Archeologist

Also congratulations to Maureen Kavanagh, the 2013 William B Mayre Award Winner.

The Mid-Potomac Chapter did a great job!

Sorry, I forgot my camera.  So there aren't any photos.

CCASM at the Library

Thursday October 10 Barbara Kane, representing CCASM, took the archeobotany seed activity to the Waldorf West Library as part of the Library's afternoon programs for children 6-11.  Patricia Bowie read a story about Sacagawea, and Barbara related the "Tale of the Three Sisters" that explained why the Native American planted corn, beans, and squash together.  Then the children had to find and identify seeds of corn, various beans, squash, cornflower, and onion.  The seeds found were taped to a sheet that the children could take home.  Barbara was assisted by her niece Debora Storey.

Excavations at a Classic Mayan Site

Tom Forhan

In the summer of 2012 Tom Forhan was part of an archaeological investigation of a Classic Mayan site Maax Na (“Spider-Monkey House”) in Belize.  At the October 10 CCASM meeting Tom described his experiences of surveying a mile-long transect through the jungle as well as the living conditions of those participating in the project.  The project was a collaborative research venture between Howard University and Bowdoin College.

Attendance: 18

Thanks again Annetta

Once again Annetta Schott, one of CCASM's members, has donated items to the Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc.  There were two interesting books as well as a number of publications and journals that will be added to our library.  The picture on right shows these as well as a whetstone, line level ruler, compass, and loupe.  Not pictured are various office supplies such as pencils, pens, and rulers.

CCASM would like to thank Annetta for all her her donations.  All the books and publications in the CCASM Library have been donated by Annetta.  Click to see Library listings

So thanks again Annetta.

2013 Nanjemoy Heritage Day

On Saturday September 21 CCASM once again was at Nanjemoy Heritage Day.  The day started with a parade, and there were crafts, Native American dances, horses to ride, representative for all sorts of organizations, and food.

CCASM had two tables indoors. For adults CCASM had the Port Tobacco display with its examples of prehistoric and early historic artifacts, the Telling Time posters, and the Maryland Projectile Point posters.  For hands-on there was an identify-the-prehistoric-artifact box, and the ever-popular seed activity. 

Lots of people stopped at our tables.  Barbara and Peggy were busy assisting children with the seed activity.  Elsie and Carol spent more time talking about the displays and CCASM activities.  And Joshua was able to get there just in time to help us pack up.

Thanks to Elsie, Barbara, Peggy, and Carol for representing us.  Also thanks to Joshua for coming by to help.

Finding 17th Century Chapel in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery

Jim Gibb

Dr. Jim Gibb of Gibb Archaeological Consulting and others have been looking for the 1662 Jesuit Chapel in the cemetery of St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Newtown (St. Mary's County).  At the CCASM September 12 Meeting Jim described the work done at the site while highlighting the results from this summer's field session.  There were images of features in the ground as well as artifacts that provided strong evidence for the location of the 17th Century earthfast chapel as well as of a nearby domestic structure that may have been occupied by the Jesuits.  The final report is still in progress.

This summer's session was a collaborative project of the Archaeology Society of Maryland and the St. Francis Xavier Parish.  Jim indicated that he along with those camping at the site had fun.  Several CCASM members participated in the Field Session.

Attendance: 11

Washing Native American Site Artifacts

On Saturday July 13 Peggy, Barbara, Elsie, and Carol washed most of the remaining artifacts recovered from the Native American site near Bryans Road.  Thirty-two bags of artifacts were washed.  There are still about ten small bags that need to be washed.  So we are almost finished washing, but the sorting has just started.

Since the forecast was for showers, we washed under cover.  But the day turned out to be really nice with no showers.  You never know.

And as you see below, we washed a lot.

2013 ASM Field Session - 2

The Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc (ASM) held its second Field Session at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery (18ST859) in Leonardtown, St. Mary's County Maryland June 14 - June 24.

Dr. Jim Gibb, also an CCASM member, was the principal investigator.  He was assisted by Scott Lawrence and Val Hall.  Seven CCASM members made the trip to St. Mary's County (not that far) for one or more days.  The other CCASM members attending were Peggy, Rich, Belinda, Josh, Elsie, and Carol.

Previous excavations at the site identified a mid-17th-century site that appears to be the 1661/2 Jesuit Chapel church site at the south end of the cemetery.  The site is situated away from known burials.

This field session several possible post molds were identified (after a number of  trowelings and much contemplation).  These could have been from an earthfast building.  Also early colonial as well as aboriginal artifacts were found.  Now we just have to wait for the report to see what all this might mean. 


CCASM is a chapter of ASM.