Ask an Archaeologist #8

?      What is the most common artifact found in Charles County?

Broken bits of stone, or flakes--waste products from stone tool making by Native Americans--are among the most common artifacts found in Charles County. Bits of brick dating from the last 300 years or so of European colonization and settlement also are up there among the more common artifacts and, at first blush, they are about as interesting as the flakes of stone. Both, however, can reveal a lot about the people who left them behind...if we carefully consider how to collect and analyze them. A scatter of flakes could reveal stone tool making or a camp in which other activities occurred. A cluster of bricks could represent a dwelling, a temporary kiln in which the bricks were made, a well, or any number of other structures from a farmstead, a grist mill, an iron furnace, or a fortification. Making sense of common finds and rare finds is what archaeology is all about.

Answer provided by Dr. James Gibb

Look for future postings with answers to additional questions.  And don't forget to check out the answers given in previous postings.

Ask and Archaeologist #7

CCASM members were asked to provided answers to the next question.  Here is one of the responses.

?      What is the oldest item you have found?  How old was it?

The oldest artifact recovered from CCASM's recent investigation of a Native American site was a Kirk projectile point.  The point has serrated edges and dates to 8900-8000 BC.  I didn't personally find it, but I was part of the group of people responsible for finding it.

I have handled thousands of artifacts, but one of my favorite is a glass bottle seal that would have been applied to a seventeenth century wine bottle to indicate the owner.  It had a "sign of four" merchant's mark along with the letters A, B, and D.   I still have not discovered the owner, but looking for him is one of the reasons I like this artifact.  The bottle seal was found at the Charles' Gift Site in a borrow pit that was dug during the last quarter of the seventeenth century.

Answer provided by Carol

Look for future postings with answers to additional questions.  And don't forget to check out the answers given in previous postings.

Public Archaeology at Serenity Farm

On April 23-24 Charles County and Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) sponsored Public Archaeology at Serenity Farm near Benedict, MD.  The rain on Saturday cut the session short (only two hours), but the weather on Sunday was beautiful.  There were only about seven people participating, and only one was from CCASM.  One test unit was dug in an area of the site near an STP that contained seventeenth century artifacts.  Esther Read, Charles County archaeologist, was in charge this weekend.

Excavating Test Unit

Lunch Break - guess what they are doing

Ask an Archaeologist #6

Archaeologist do not study fossils.  However, we asked one of our members who is also interested in fossils to provide ideas on where to get more information.

?      How do you determine the age of a fossil?

First,  you must identify the fossil.  Having a good fossil identification book or field guide is a good place to start.

?      Where is the best place in Charles County to find fossils?

Purse State Park is a great place.  Anywhere along the Potomac River / Popes Creek where there are cliffs is also good.  Look along the beaches below.  Remember to be safe.  The cliffs can be very dangerous.

?      How deep was the deepest fossil you ever found?

Fossils are very old and so is the Earth.  A lot has happened to the Earth's crust.  We have found fossil's high up in cliffs, but remember this land could have been below sea level at one time.  The process is called "plate tectonics".

You should also check out:
"The Southern Rock and Mineral Club", Clearwater Nature Center, Clinton, MD
or the "Maryland Geological Society"

Answers provided by Polly

Look for future postings with answers to additional questions.  And don't forget to check out the answers given in previous postings.

Ask an Archaeologist #5

?      What is the most common artifact found in Charles County?

Every good archaeologist knows the answer to this question depends on the site!  On Native sites in Charles County, the most common artifact may be the waste flakes from stone tool manufacture or the stones cracked by the heat of ancient campfires.  At other sites it may be red brick fragments, and still others oyster shell.  The most common artifact on one indigenous site included hundreds of glass beads.

Answer provided by Dr. Julia King

Look for future postings with answers to additional questions.  And don't forget to check out the answers given in previous postings.

Discovering Archaeology Day 2016

On Saturday April 16 Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc participated in Discovering Archaeology Day at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum in St Leonard, Maryland.

It was a nice day to be outdoors.  There was a scavenger hunt with our booth being one of the stops, hands-on activities for children and the young-at-heart, free guided tours, on-site exhibits, as well as experts available to identify personal artifacts.  Also Sara Rivers Cofield had a new puzzler of  unusual small finds.  We did have fun telling people about Charles County archaeology and what we are doing.  Also we took time to meet other archaeologists from around the region and to see what they were doing.

 Barbara and Elsie represented CCASM at the event. 

Maryland Indian Heritage Trail

Rico Newman

At the April 14 CCASM Meeting Rico Newman talked about the Maryland Indian Heritage Trail as well as the Accokeek Creek Site.  Rico discussed many aspects of the trail as well as provided the stories of the native people associated with the Maryland and DC land along the Potomac.

Rico Newman, Commissioner, Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs

CCASM wants to especially thank Rico for agreeing to talk on short notice when the previously scheduled speakers had to cancel.   

Attendance: 12

April proclaimed as Charles County Archaeology Month

On Tuesday, April 12, the Charles County Commissioners proclaimed the month of April as Archaeology Month in Charles County (to coincide with Maryland Archaeology Month).  Charles County has a rich history and heritage, exemplified by historic buildings, cultural landmarks, natural features, and local rituals.  The county is enhanced by historic preservation associations, groups, and professionals who donate countless hours and dollars to preserve our history.

CCASM members Carol and Elsie received the proclamation and then gave each of the commissioners and the Deputy Commissioner a Maryland Archaeology Month poster along with the accompanying brochure.

Pictured left to right: Carol Cowherd, Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc.; Ken Robinson (District 1); Elsie Picyk, Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc.; Commissioner Bobby Rucci (District 4); Commissioner Vice President Debra M. Davis, Esq. (District2); Commissioner Amanda M. Stewart, M.Ed. (District 3); and President Peter F. Murphy.

Ask an Archaeologist #4

CCASM members were asked to provided answers to the next question. Here is one of the responses.

?      What is the oldest item you have found?  How old was it?

The oldest artifact that I have found in Southern Maryland is a Clovis projectile point--a large spear head--that dates back something on the order of 10,000 years. That said, oldest isn't the most interesting. With the right question, a piece of coal from a household deposit that formed in 1920 can be interesting. Why did a family buy coal instead of harvesting firewood from the neighborhood? Did their neighbors also use coal? If not, why did some people burn coal and others wood? Did the community over-harvest suitable firewood? Was coal too expensive for some families? Did coal use confer a degree of prestige on a family similar to wearing fashionable store-bought rather than homemade clothing? These and other questions from a simple lump of coal!

Answer provided by Jim Gibb

Look for future postings with answers to additional questions.  And don't forget to check out the answers given in previous postings.

2016 ASM Spring Symposium

Saturday April 9 the Archeological Society of Maryland held its Annual Spring Symposium at the Maryland Historical Trust in Crownsville, MD.   CCASM members attending included Carol, Annetta, Carole, and Belinda. 


The talks at the Symposium included

• An Exploration of Archaic Rituals, Dr. Cheryl Claassen, Appalachian State University, N.C
  Extremely interesting talk.   The talk was a summary of the first section of her recent book Beliefs and Rituals in Archaic Eastern North America: An Interpretive Guide.  Evidently in addition to building soil mounds, Archaic people also built shell mounds (think Pope's Creek).
   
• Re-Examining 17th Century Beads from the Chesapeake, Rebecca Webster, senior at St Mary's College
   
• Large-Scale Excavations at Four Woodland Sites of Central Delaware (Carey Farm, Snapp, Leipsic and Pollack Sites): Or, What I Learned from Big-Time Archeology, Dr. Jay F. Custer, University of Delaware
   
• The River Farm Site: Part of the Pig Point Puzzle, Stephanie Sperling, Anne Arundel County The first of this year's ASM field sessions will be at the River Farm Site.  The talk described the work that had been done to date in order to whet our interest.
           
•  The Rising Star Excavation in South Africa and the Homo Naledi Discovery, Becca Peixotto , American University
  Becco was one of the six primary excavators of the site.  She shared 3-D printed examples of bones recovered, a "video" of what it was like navigating through the cave, as well as describing this unusual open access project.
   
•  Putting Classic Sites to Work: The Colonial Encounters Project, Dr. Julia A. King, , St Mary's College
  The project includes detailed summaries of over thirty sites along the lower Potomac River along with artifact and context databases, and images of important or unusual artifacts.  The web site colonialencounters.org is up, but is still a work in progress.
  
  
• The Abbott Farm Historical Landmark: Snapshots from a 13,000-Year (Pre)History, Dr. R. Michael Stewart, Associate Professor Emeritus, Temple University

CCASM is a chapter of ASM.

Ask an Archaeologist # 3

CCASM members were asked to provided answers to the next question. Here is one of the responses.

?      What is the oldest item you have found?  How old was it?

I have never actively participated in an archaeological dig within Charles County, Maryland.   I did
assist on ground penetrating radar projects in Fort Hunt, Virginia where we were studying the ruins of a World War II military intelligence facility called P.O. Box 1142.  While comparatively not very old compared to some artifacts, this project is one of the most significant in my career.

A few examples of the fort exist above the surface, including the old gun batteries that worked in coordination with those at Fort Washington across the Potomac to theoretically prevent and invading fleet to go up the river to attack the nation's capital.  Most the fort's facilities were destroyed after the war and the property was returned to the National Park Service, which converted it into a picnic area. Still some ruins exist below the surface.

Here are a couple of links that will provide an introduction to Fort Hunt:
http://blogs.weta.org/boundarystones/2015/12/09/po-box-1142-secrets-fort-hunt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYB3b8VvLLQ

Answer provided by David

Look for future postings with answers to additional questions.  And don't forget to check out the answers given in previous postings.

Ask an Archaeologist #2

?      Why do archaeology?  Who cares?

I come to archaeology with a passion about the human past: what happened, when did it happen, and where did it happen?  And how can this knowledge connect us with a deeper understanding of who we are?  We all have personal histories and social (or group) histories, and archaeology has become a powerful tool for connecting us and our fellow citizens to those histories.  Archaeology helps us make sense of why the places where we live look, feel, and operate the way they do.  Archaeology also allows us to challenge the way things are; I get a kick out of using archaeology to upend so many myths about Maryland history.  Why?  Because what really happened is always, without fail, a much more compelling story.

Answer provided by Dr. Julia King

Look for future postings with answers to additional questions.  And don't forget to check out the answers given in previous postings.

Ask an Archaeologist # 1

At the 2016 HITS Expo that was held for the combined Charles County History Day and Science Fair, anyone stopping at the CCASM table was encouraged to put a question into the CCASM "Ask an Archaeologist" box.  The answers will be appearing over the next weeks as blog postings starting with this one.

?      Is it okay to not collect artifacts?

Archaeologists collect artifacts, recording locations and associated artifacts and soils, to answer research questions.  If we do not have a question to ask, we don't collect the artifact, just information on its location.  Artifacts, once collected, have to be stored and cared for, and that costs money.  It requires a commitment.  Amateur archaeologists and casual artifact collectors have different needs and interests.  As a professional archaeologist concerned with caring for artifacts so that we can study them now, and into the future, I don't encourage collecting.  I'd prefer that people who are interested in the past work with me and other archaeologists in the region to carefully collect and analyze materials from sites for which we have research questions.  Even then, we only sample sites, collecting only as much material as is necessary to answer our questions.  If new questions arise out of those answers, then we may have a reason to go back to a site and collect additional material.

Answer provided by Dr. James Gibb

Look for future postings with answers to additional questions.

April is Maryland Archaeology Month (2016)

2016 Maryland Archaeology Month Booklet








Click for Maryland Archaeology Month Activities

Events in Charles County              Calvert County Events          St. Mary's County Events

April 7  (6 pm)
Lectures and Historical Reenactment: 

Title:   Being Fashionable on Maryland’s Western Shore in the Late Seventeenth Century: Artifacts from Westwood Manor presented by Dr. Julia King and Dr. Patricia Samford, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Title:   Rev Thomas John Claggett, first Bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland in 1792-1816. Come and meet the Bishop in person portrayed by Mike Callahan, Local Historian, Living History Interpreter

Title:   “Truth is Stranger than Fiction:"The life of Josiah Henson, 1789-1883, born in Port Tobacco, a conductor on the Underground Railroad, whose life inspired a best seller, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. His Who, What and Why! presented by Mr. Michael Sullivan, Mt. Victoria Farm, Newburg, Md.
Sponsor: Christ Episcopal Church, Wayside

Location: Christ Church Wayside Hall, 13050 Rock Point Road, Newburg, MD 20664.
Fee: Free
Contact: Betty Bowling, 301-259-2182 or www.edow.org/christchurchwayside
Please contact Betty Bowling (301-643-7157) to make sure they set up enough chairs

April 14  (7 pm)
Lecture: Maryland Indian Heritage Trail
Description: Rico Newman of the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs will talk about the Maryland Indian Heritage Trail.
Sponsor: Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc., a chapter of ASM
Location: LaPlata Police Department, 101 La Grange Avenue La Plata, MD
Fee: Free
Contact: Carol Cowherd 301-375-9489  charlescoasm.org or ccarchsoc.blogspot.com

April 23-24  (10am - 4pm)
Event: Serenity Farms Public Archaeology
Description: Esther Read will be the principle investigator for a public archaeology event to be held at Serenity Farms near Benedict, MD.   Participants need to pre-register at SerenityFarm
Sponsor: Charles County Government
Location: Serenity Farms, Serenity Farm Rd, Benedict, MD
Fee: Free
Contact: Esther Read  reade@pbworld.com