2018 Public Archaeology Lab Days (July-Dec )

CCASM is continuing to work with Charles County at the Monday Public Archaeology Lab Days on various Charles County collections and exhibit initiatives.  The lab is located in Historic Port Tobacco.  Esther Read is the archaeologist in charge.

Here is what we did during the second half of 2018.

December 17 was a day for straightening up the archaeology area on the second floor of the Courthouse.  The previous week boxes of supplies were transferred from the Burch House Lab.  So Mary, Linda, Denise, Carol, Evelyn, and Evelyn's mother-in-law spent the day unboxing, throwing out, and organizing what was there so that we would have space to work when we returned in January and also so we would be able to find things.  But we didn't see anything we would like to be the artifact of the day.

On December 10 Elsie, Denise, Mary, Linda, Julie, Carol, and Esther completed sorting and bagging all the artifacts that were in the drying screens and then transferred everything to the Courthouse.  The lab in Burch House has been closed for the winter, and the lab has now been moved to the Courthouse.  We chose these base fragments from a manganese mottled tankard as the artifact of the day.

Monday December 3 was spent trying to finish processing any groups of artifacts that we had already started washing.  The Courthouse is really not set up for washing artifacts.  So Carol, Linda, Elsie, Mary, Denise, and Evelyn sorted and bagged and washed while Esther packed things up.  We picked this thick piece of worked amber glass(?).  On one side are flake removals as if it were being made into a projectile point, but the other side has not been worked.  It was around one-half inch thick. 

 

November 26 was a day for decorating and for partying.  Carol and Elsie brought holly, magnolia leaves, and evergreens.  Mary, Linda, Denise, and Evelyn helped decorate the Christmas trees with decorations Elsie had provided as well as those we had made in the past.  And everyone including Julie and Esther pitched in where needed to add other decorations.  We were decorating Burch House to get it ready for the upcoming Charles County Holiday Trail this weekend.
For lunch we had a pizza party to thank the volunteers for all the work we had done.  Esther provided the, pizza, and the rest of us provided various appetizers (except for Mary who provided some delicious cookies).  Cathy Thompson was able to join us for the party. 

On November 19 all of us (Mary, Linda, Elsie, Julie, Denise, Evelyn, and Carol) either sorted and bagged or washed artifacts from the early Port Tobacco excavations.  We chose this artifact - a creamware fragment with an embossed "B" and an embossed rim design of egg and ?  - from a PT Courthouse unit as the artifact of the day.  It's probably part of an alphabet plate.
After Esther joined us we all went to the Courthouse to remove and bag the artifacts in the upstairs large display case so the case could be moved downstairs.

Once again at the November 12 lab we split up.  Mary, Linda, Elsie, and Julie stayed in Burch House where they either sorted and bagged or washed artifacts from the early Port Tobacco excavations.  Denise, Evelyn, Carol, and Esther went to the second floor of the Courthouse and continued cataloging.  Those at Burch House selected this interesting ceramic fragment as the artifact of the day.

On November 5 Denise, Elsie, Mary, Evelyn and Julie sorted and bagged and washed artifacts from the early Port Tobacco archaeology.  For the artifact of the day we choose this single spiral wine glass stem.  It is much less complex than the multi spiral air twist wine glass stem we choose for the artifact of the day in August 15, 2016.

Mid-afternoon Esther, Elsie and Evelyn traveled to the Simpkin Coatback (CH-657) site in Dentsville.  Over the weekend Oxford Tree Ring Lab staff had conducted dendrochronology testing of the building.  During the testing Esther peered through a hole in the floor and discovered what she thinks is the original hearth.  So with the intent of removing some of the floor boards to better examine this feature Esther, Elsie and Evelyn  returned to the site and pried up a few floor boards.  We found the original thick floor boards underneath which ran at an angle to the top floor.  We will have to return another day with saws instead of crow bars.
(Thanks to Elsie for the info plus Elsie and Esther for the photos.)

Mary, Linda, Evelyn, Julie, and Carol spent part of the October 29 Lab bagging and sorting as well as washing artifacts from the earlier Port Tobacco excavations, and we selected this silver plated fork and spoon as the artifact of the day.  It's almost possible to make out "ROGERS & SON  A_" on the back of the spoon handle.  But time was also spent bringing more artifacts down from the Courthouse attic as well as moving two computers and a scanner to the upstairs Lab in the Courthouse.   Esther brought the computers down from the closed Fells Point archaeology lab, and they will be used to allow multiple people to catalog the collections at the same time.  While walking back to Burch House from the Courthouse we took a detour to see the newly installed sign on the Jail House Lot.  

Denise, Mary, Evelyn, Julie, Linda, and Elsie sorted and bagged the last of artifacts recovered from Simpson-Coatback on October 22.  Then they washed more artifacts from the early Port Tobacco digs.  Esther cataloged the Simpson-Coatback artifacts as fast as we got them bagged.  After lunch we went to check on the new sign for the jail but found it had not yet been erected.  We choose a table glass sherd from the early Port Tobacco dig as our artifact of the day but had a difficult time getting a picture that showed its embossing.   This photo shows the fragment being held by the base in front of a light bulb.    (Thanks to Elsie for the write-up and the photo.)

October 15 Linda, Mary, Denise, Elsie, Evelyn, and Carol continued processing (washing and bagging the dried artifacts) while Esther catalogued.  In the afternoon Denise, Evelyn, and Julie returned to the Courthouse to organize the Port Tobacco artifact bags.  The artifact for the day are these three pieces of worked bone that mend.  Saw marks can be seen on both sides of the object that was recovered from a Dentville STP on the south of the house.

October 8 we were only in the lab during the morning so we could return to work at the Dentville site after lunch.  Denise, Elsie, Evelyn, and Carol bagged the Dentville artifacts we had washed last week while Linda continued with washing additional artifacts using the only remaining drying screen. Sorry, nothing jumped out at us.  So no artifact for the day.

The weather was so nice that we decided to work outside on October 1.  Elsie, Linda, Denise, and Carol washed artifacts that had been recovered from the emergency excavations at Dentsville, MD, this past week.  Esther started cataloguing the artifacts (and their locations) to give her a better idea how to best use the remaining time in the field.   We choose this copper coin that was recovered from an STP associated with a metal detector hit as the artifact of the day.  It turns out to be an 1984 Roosevelt dime.  Dimes started being minted with about 92% copper in 1965.  This is what they look like when buried in the ground.

On September 24 the Lab was cut short, but we still chose an artifact for the day - this porcelain rim with a raised leaf design.  At the Lab Denise and Evelyn were once again in the Courthouse organizing the Port Tobacco artifact bags.  In Burch House Mary and Carol were sorting and re-bagging while Linda and Elsie were washing artifacts.  After lunch the rain seemed to have let up some, so we car pooled to Dentville and started some emergency fieldwork. (see Dentville Excavations)

Once again on September 17 the Lab activities were in two locations. Denise and Evelyn were in the Courthouse attic organizing the Port Tobacco artifact bags that we had processed this summer.  While in Burch House, Mary, Linda, Elsie, and Carol were sorting and re-bagging artifacts.  And Esther continued documenting what was going on.  There were several examples of White Salt-glazed Stoneware plate rims.  We chose these two rims to be the artifact of the day.  On the left is the basket design, and on the right is the star-diaper design.      

A lot of different activities were going on at the September 10 Lab.  Everyone did some sorting and re-bagging.  Then Mary and Linda washed artifacts.  Denise and Evelyn worked on organizing the Port Tobacco artifact bags that we had processed this summer.  Carol tried her hand at mending some bottles.  And Esther did paper work.  One of the trays contained an assortment of metal objects including hinges, locks, and various fasteners.  Since we couldn't decide on just one object, all became the "artifact" for the day. 

August 27 Elsie, Linda, Mary, Denise, Carol, and Esther worked on several activities - mainly brushing rust from nails, but also a little sorting and bagging as well as straightening up the lab, and retrieving more artifacts from the Courthouse attic.  We chose an unusual blackened white clay pipe bowl fragment from the 1970's excavations as the artifact of the day.  The foot on the pipe was different from the Bristol white clay pipes often found in the Mid-Atlantic.  The foot is constricted near the pipe bowl.  Also there was a stamp on the bottom that we could not make it out.
We also set out displays for the upcoming Saturday tour highlighting the life of Washington Burch.  
 

Linda, Mary, Elsie, Evelyn, and Carol finished sorting and bagging the Stagg Hall STP artifacts on August 20 while Esther continued to catalog what we had recovered.  We also washed some finds that the owner of Chimney House had found in his yard.  Then we went back to brushing rust from nails and washing Port Tobacco artifacts that had been stored in the attic.  The "artifacts for the day" are a variety of glass container bases that were found together in a metal tray.  They are from the 1970's Port Tobacco excavations, but they have no provenience.  Each base has it's own story, but we noticed that the bottom right base has the letters PARLIN CO.

On August 13 Linda, Mary, Elsie, Evelyn, and Carol bagged and sorted the Stagg Hall STP artifacts that had been washed last week.  Then we finished washing the artifacts recovered from the other seven STPs while Esther started cataloging the artifacts in preparation for writing the report.  Elsie found the artifact of the day - the head and body of a very small porcelain doll that someone had lost or discarded behind Stagg Hall.

On August 6 Joe, Denise, Linda, and Carol needed to sort and bag the partially processed Port Tobacco attic artifacts so we could start washing the artifacts recovered from the STPs we had dug Saturday behind Stagg Hall.  We were able to wash the artifacts recovered from seven of the fourteen STPs while Esther worked on interpreting the field notes.  We initially chose an intricate copper alloy buckle for the artifact of the day.  Since that STP also included a twentieth century spark plug fragment, we decided to add the spark plug and other artifacts (blue and gray stoneware fragment and porcelain cup base) recovered from the same STP to our "artifact of the day".

On July 30 Elsie and Carol started off by washing artifacts.  Linda and Evelyn spent the whole lab sorting a screen of unprovenienced glass and ceramics with  Elsie and Carol pitching in at the end to help finish the screen.  Esther had paperwork that needed doing.  Joe and Denise stopped by for lunch. 
Three pieces of machine made bottle glass were picked for the "artifact of the day".  Two are embossed with words or partial words.  One has the partial words "ROUS","SKIN", and "AIR".  One has the letters "PURE R".  And the final one is a base with a valve mark caused when it was ejected out of a mold.

The lab is running out of bags and boxes for processing and storing the SRPT artifacts.  Esther indicated that since 2015 we have processed only about one-third of the artifacts in the SRPT attic.

On a very wet July 23 Denise and Joe started out sorting and bagging nails (great fun!).  Mary and Elsie did the same for a screen of ceramics while Linda washed.  Later in the day we all washed.  Esther did paperwork all day.  The artifact of the day is part of an upper jaw (maxilla) probably from a cow, with a couple of teeth still somewhat attached.  The artifact is from the 1970s excavation but the exact location (provenience) is unknown.   Interestingly after we chose this artifact we discovered that almost exactly a year ago (July 24, 2017) the artifact of the day was also jaw fragments. Some people think bones are not as interesting as ceramics, buttons and glass but I guess we can feature them on an annual basis.  (Thanks to Elsie for the write-up and photo.)

Linda, Mary, Evelyn, Elsie, Carol, and Esther continued working on Port Tobacco artifacts at the July 9 Lab.  The artifact for the day was from Port Tobacco Area B Feature 1 "below the ash lens".  It is the base of a pearlware bowl.  We thought there was a "maker's mark" on the bottom, but "GRACEFIE" appears to refer to Gracefield, Ireland, the location seen on the inside of the bowl.

On a very hot July 2 Linda, Mary, Denise, Elsie, Carol, and Esther worked inside washing artifacts and brushing rather than washing iron artifacts.    The "artifact" for the day are these fragments of decorated American-made stoneware vessels.  These include rims from eight different vessels.
Joe came by and accompanied Esther on a field trip that had to be cut short. 

2018 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-June)
2017 Public Archaeology Lab Days (July-Dec)
2017 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan-June)
2016 Public Archaeology Lab Days (July - Dec)
2016 Public Archaeology Lab Days (Jan - June)
2015 Public Archaeology Lab Days

Mayan Beekeeping Past and Present

Susan Langley

The topic for the December 13 CCASM meeting was "Meliponiculture: Mayan Beekeeping Past and Present", and Susan Langley definitely kept our interest as she talked about this stingless bee of Central America that is still being kept by Mayans.  We learned that Mayans kept bees horizontally and the Mayan bee god was Ah Mucen Cab.  It's impossible to summarize all the bee and honey stories Susan shared with us.



Susan also brought samples of honey from different countries around the world for us to sample.

And since it was the holidays, there were also refreshments. (Thanks to Mary, Evelyn, Linda, Elsie, and Frank)

Susan Langley has been a beekeeper for over fifteen years.  Her “day-job” is as Maryland’s State Underwater Archaeologist directing the Maryland Maritime Archaeology Program.

Attendance: 25

Burch House on 2018 Holiday Trail

On December 1 and 2 CCASM hosted visitors at Burch House in historic Port Tobacco during the 2018 Charles County Holiday Trail.  Fourteen historic sites participated in this free event.

Eighty-eight visitors came by Burch House this year to hear about this eighteenth-century house and about one of its owners and residents, Washington Burch.  And no visit to Burch House is complete without learning a little about archaeology in Port Tobacco.  Several people stayed a little longer to have some hot cider and home-baked cookies.

New this year at the Port Tobacco Village sties was a "Discovering Historic Port Tobacco" Archaeological and Historical Activity Booklet for students of all ages.  At least sixteen young people completed three or more age appropriate activities that allowed them to receive a certificate and a small prize.  

CCASM members decorated Burch House simply for the holidays in keeping with the house.  There was a lot of greenery and two trees - one decorated with crocheted ornaments (on loan from one of our members) and one with paper ornaments we had made.  Visitors also noticed that Charles County had recently added more period furnishing and other accessories to the house.

Special thanks to Elsie, Denise, Mary, Linda, Carol, and Esther for being there to talk with the visitors and for taking care of the refreshments.  And a special thanks to Elsie who coordinated the event and to Mary who baked the cookies.  Also thanks to Mike and Linda for providing photos.

Brass, Copper, and the Colonial Impact

Maxwell Sickler

At the  November 7 CCASM meeting Maxwell Sickler talked about an archaeological analysis of Native American copper and brass artifacts.  He indicated the sources of copper (mainly the Great Lakes region) used in artifacts from sites predating European contact.  He also compared the form of the copper artifacts recovered from pre-Contact sites in the Middle Atlantic to the form of the copper/brass artifacts recovered from sites dating after European contact.  The artifacts from these later sites included artifacts made from European brass, a copper alloy.  The talk concluded with a question-answer session.

Maxwell Sickler is a recent graduate of St Marys College of Maryland and is currently working with Julia King on an archaeological investigation related to the Rappahannock.

Attendance: 14

Piscataway Mini Pow-Wow

On Friday November 2 a Mini-Pow-Wow was held at the Piscataway Cultural Center in Waldorf.  Claude Bowen, former Archeology of Maryland, Inc (ASM) President and current member of the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs, was invited to have a table at the event.  And since Claude is interested in archaeology,  he asked two others (Carol from CCASM and Lynne from Mid-Potomac Chapter ) to participate. 

Much of the event was indoors. And there were lots of people, especially lots of children.   In addition to learning about archaeology, there were brochures and activities at the National Park Service table and the opportunity to actually see someone preparing river clay to make pottery in the traditional way.  And attendees could also participate in dancing the Robin Dance and the Snake Dance.    Here are some of those attending at the ASM tables as well as others dancing the Robin Dance.

Beside CCASM Displays

Looking at Native American artifacts

Lynne's Pottery Display

Robin Dance

Other activities were outdoors.  In addition to the pottery display Lynne brought atlatls and a deer target.  So outside there was atlatl throwing as well as axe throwing at the deer target in front of hay bales.  (Sorry no pictures.)

And we have to include this last picture of a little boy that spent a lot of time looking at books describing projectile points.  He preferred the drawings of points over the photos.

It was an enjoyable day talking with people about archaeology and learning more about the Piscataways.

Port Tobacco Jail Lot Sign Installed

In 2017 the Port Tobacco River Conservancy (PTRC) received a grant from the County Tourism office to assist with the preparation of the grounds and fabrication of an interpretive panel for the Jail Lot Site in Port Tobacco.  Charles County had recently acquired this property on which this third and last jail associated with a County Courthouse in Port Tobacco was built in 1860.   The jail was demolished in 1906 after the County Seat had been moved to La Plata. 

The interpretive panel was installed this October near the front of the lot so it can be seen from the Courthouse.  Nice job PTRC.

CCASM was one of the partnering organizations on the grant.  CCASM members helped PTRC and others remove some of the invasive plants although Charles County Parks was needed to remove the invasive trees (see Port Tobacco Jail Lot Grant).  CCASM members also participated along with a number of others in the design of the interpretive panel and provided some of the graphics as well as some of the research on the lot.