Volunteering for SHA at Site Near Benedict

As part of their Public Outreach, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is funding an archaeological investigation of a seventeenth century site near Benedict, MD.

The week of April 15-19 nine CCASM members volunteered for SHA at the site and worked along side profession archaeologists associated with the Ottery Group and from SHA.  The historic artifacts we recovered were predominantly from the late seventeenth/early eighteenth centuries.  There were even some Early/Middle Woodland prehistoric pottery sherds.  We were looking for an earthfast building, and there were lots of rusty nails.  Several post molds were found, but only one might have been associated with a building.  Work at the site will continue for two more weeks.

The CCASM members volunteering for one or more days were Carol, Carole, Elsie, Gary, Joshua, Paula, Peggy, Rich, and Steve.  In total we volunteered 131 hours.  We appreciated the opportunity to participate and really enjoyed working at the site even though the weather was unpredictable.

Here are various images of us and the others at the site -