2014 ASM Field School - The Fall Classic

October 10 - 20 the Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc (ASM) conducted a Field School and Lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, MD near Annapolis.  Dr. Jim Gibb was the principal investigator, and he was assisted by Sarah Grady and George Riseling.  Both Jim and Sarah are members of CCASM.  Other CCASM members participating for a least one day were Carol, Lindsey, and Annetta.

The principal excavation area involved seventeenth century middens with lots of oysters and nails as well as lots of early seventeenth century pipe bowls - several with maker's marks.  Everyone had the opportunity to trowel (which is not often the case).   Laboratory work was done at the Sellman House. The weather was sunny on the weekends, but a little iffy during the week.  The tents came in handy.  Fieldwork only had to be cancelled on one day.  That day there was also an opportunity to help sort, catalog, and label.  It was really an interesting site and an enjoyable field session.

Archaeology - Rain

Or Shine

And in the Lab

CCASM is a chapter of ASM.

Charles and Eleanor Butler

Julie King

Dr. Julia King joined us for CCASM's October 9th meeting and enticed us with the story of Eleanor, an Irish immigrant, and Charles Butler, an enslaved African.  The pair met while working at Notley Hall on the Wicomico River and married in 1681 in Maryland.  People, including Lord Baltimore, traveled miles upon miles to see the spectacle.  Shortly before their marriage, a law was imposed stating a wife shall take her husband's status upon marriage (Eleanor would enslave herself) and this law was abolished shortly after the marriage of Charles and Eleanor Butler but did not exempt them from the law.   Dr. King used the archaeological record to reconstruct this narrative.  Interestingly, one descendant of the Butlers attended the talk.

Dr. King is a professor of anthropology at St. Mary's College of Maryland.  She is also the former Director of the MAC Lab at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum and the former Southern Maryland Regional Archaeologist.

Attendance: 19

Posting submitted by Sarah and photos provided by Carol.