Open House - Zekiah Fort Archaeological Site

On June 27 St. Mary's College of Maryland hosted an Open House at the Zekiah Fort Archaeological Site.  In 2011 Dr Julia King was the principal investigator that discovered this forgotten site that had been occupied by the Piscataway Indians in the late seventeenth century.  This year Dr King returned to do additional investigations and excavations at the site.

There were tours of the site where Dr King or one of her staff pointed out the remains of long-rotted posts that had been found in the excavation units.

There were also displays of some of the artifacts that had been found.  The two larger boxes contain artifacts found in 2011.  Those in the center boxes contain artifacts found this year.

In December 2012 Charles County purchased the property on which the site is located.  The site is to be part of the Piscataway Heritage Trail.

Three CCASM members (Lindsey, Peggy, and Carol) volunteered for one day at the site this year.  It was the first time that one member, Lindsey, had volunteered.  She found four beads, and the small signet ring (in the center of the artifact boxes) was discovered in her screen.  Quite a nice introduction to archaeology.

(Close-ups photos provided by Lindsey)