Landscape and the Imagined Past

Esther Doyle Read

At the April 13 CCASM meeting Esther Doyle Read recounted how the Port Tobacco landscape she first saw in the 1980's is a stark contrast to its historic counterpart.  Even the current landscape does not reflect the historic Port Tobacco.   Esther continued with how recent archaeology as well as efforts by Charles County are trying to provide visitors to Port Tobacco more clues to this historic counterpart. 

In addition to describing the public archeology that has been done at Stagg Hall in Port Tobacco, Esther also described what has been done at Rich Hill since the last public archaeology done there in 2015.  The archaeology is beginning to tell us how the different occupants of the property changed the landscape of Rich Hill.

And then Esther indicated the next public archaeology days - March 23 at Rich Hill and May 6 at Stagg Hall.   Esther will be the archaeologist in charge of the public archaeology.  (Check out future blogs for more information.)

Esther Doyle Read is a Professor at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, as well as the Charles County Contract Archaeologist.

Intent on hearing Esther's Talk

In addition to the talk, Mike Mazzeo gave us the first look at the panel "Port Tobacco on the World Stage"  that  has images of early artifacts recovered in Port Tobacco but that were made throughout the world.  The panel is to be installed at Stagg Hall and was funded by CCASM member Elsie Pyck in memory of her late husband George.  Sorry, no picture, but be sure to stop by Stagg Hall to see the panel as well as all the changes that have been made there.

Attendance: 13