April is Archaeology Month

Charting the Past: 30 Years of Exploring Maryland's Submerged History





Click for 2018 Maryland Archaeology Month Booklet








Click for 2018 Maryland Archaeology Month Activities

Events in Charles County plus other selected Events
(All events are free unless otherwise noted.)

April 1 - 29 
Maryland Archaeology Month Display at La Plata Library
Sponsor: Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc

Mondays, April 2, 9 16, 23  (11 am - 3:30 pm)
Public Archeology Lab 
Volunteer at the on-going Public Archaeology Lab and process artifacts recovered from various archaeology initiatives in Charles County.
Location: Historic Port Tobacco Village, MD 20677
Sponsor: Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc and Charles County Government 
Contact: Esther Doyle Read email: ReadE@charlescountymd.gov

Saturday, April 7
Public Archaeology Fieldwork
Snow and rain is predicted in Charles County for Saturday, April 7.  So the scheduled Public Archaeology Day at Stagg Hall has been canceled.  It will be rescheduled later in the spring when it's warmer, and there is no more snow.
Sponsor: Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc and Charles County Government 
Contact: Esther Doyle Read email: ReadE@charlescountymd.gov

Saturday, April 7 (11 am - 2:30 pm) - Calvert County
Flint Knapping Workshop
Ever wonder how Native Americans made stone tools? During this workshop you will learn the techniques to turn stone into tools. The workshop will include how to select material, the science behind knapping and the chance to create your own stone arrowheads. This workshop is perfect for ages 13 and up.  Cost $15/ Friends of JPPM $12
Location: Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, 10515 Mackall Rd., St. Leonard, MD 20685 
Sponsor: Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab, Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum
Contact: Nathaniel Salzman   phone: 410-586-8551   email: Nathaniel.Salzman@maryland.gov

Thursday, April 12 (7 pm)
Update on Smith’s St. Leonard Site
Hear Ed Chaney provide an update on the archaeology being done at the Smith’s St. Leonard Site (18CV91), an 18th century site located in Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum.
Location: La Plata Police Department,101 La Grange Ave, La Plata, MD
Contact: Carol Cowherd  ccasm2010@gmail.com
Sponsor: Charles County Archaeology Society of Maryland

Sunday, April 15 (12:30 -Boats begin running to Island; 2pm-Ceremony) - St Mary's County
The Black Diamond Disaster: Forgotten Tragedy on the Potomac
On April 23rd 1865, The Black Diamond was struck by The Massachusetts, and she sank.  Eighty-seven men were lost, but no one remembers. This event will bring this story and others of the Civil War in Southern Maryland to life, and includes special tours of the Blackstone Island Lighthouse. Location: St. Clement’s Island Museum and St. Clement’s Island State Park
Sponsor: St. Mary’s County Museum Division
Contact: Karen Stone Contact phone: 301-769-3235 email: karen.stone@stmarysmd.com

Saturday, April 21  (10 am - 3 pm) - Calvert County
Discovering Archaeology Day
Bring the entire family for a day of interactive learning and fun, including  archaeological site and lab tours, exhibits, games and cool crafts.  Experience, discover, learn, and have fun exploring the “what, where, and how’s” of archaeology! 
(CCASM will be one of the archaeology organizations having a table at the event.)
Location: Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, 10515 Mackall Road, Saint Leonard, MD 20685
Sponsor: Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab, Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum
Contact: Sherwana Knox phone: 410-586-8501 email: sherwana.knox@maryland.gov

Monday, April 23  (6:30 pm) - St Mary's County
Tour Historic St. Mary's City Archaeology Laboratories
Join HSMC Curator and Lab Director Silas Hurry and members of the St. Mary's County chapter of the Archaeological Society of Maryland in a guided tour of the newly constructed curation and study facility located in Anne Arundel Hall on the campus of St. Mary's College of Maryland.
Location: Anne Arundel South, St Mary's College, 16855 Point Lookout Rd, St Marys City, MD
Sponsor: St. Mary's County Archaeological Society
Contact: Chris Coogan email: clcoogan@smcm.edu

Saturday, April 28 (9 am - 3:30 pm) - Ann Arundel County
Archaeology Society of Maryland (ASM) Spring Symposium
Topics covered will include "Underwater Archeology" (David W. Alberg, NOAA), ASM Student Spotlight (Siobhan Summers), "Understanding the Threats to Archaeological Resources along the Margins of the Chesapeake " (Darrin L. Lowery), "The Significance of Small Sites" (Paul Raber).
Also Featuring Josiah Henson from Charles County to Canada -- "In Search of Josiah Henson's Birthplace: Archaeological Investigations at La Grange, Near Port Tobacco, Maryland" (Julie King), "Truth Stranger Than Fiction - Archaeological Investigations at the Josiah Henson Site, Montgomery County, Maryland" (Cassandra Michaud), "Freedom Seekers: Archaeology at the Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site, Canada" (Dena Doroszenko, Ontario Heritage Trust ) 
For more information on talks - http://marylandarcheology.org/PDF/Annual_Symposium_2018.pdfam.pdf 
Cost $7 for general admission, $5 for ASM members and students
Location: 100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21032
Sponsor: Archaeology Society of Maryland
 

April proclaimed as Charles County Archaeology Month (2018)

On Tuesday March 27 the Charles County Commissioners proclaimed the month of April as Archaeology Month in Charles County (to coincide with Maryland Archaeology Month).  The proclamation sites the rich history and heritage of Charles County, exemplified by historic buildings, cultural landmarks, natural features, and local rituals.  It also recognizes that the county is enhanced by historic preservation associations, groups, and professionals who donate countless hours and dollars to preserve that history.

CCASM members Carol and Elsie received the proclamation and then gave each of the Commissioners a Maryland Archaeology Month poster and booklet.

2018 Charles County History Day and Science Fair

The combined Charles County Public Schools Annual History Day  and the Annual Science Fair (now referred to as H.I.T.S.) were held on March 24, 2018.  CCASM sponsored one of the special History awards and one of the Science awards.  In both cases the award was $50 and a one-year membership in CCASM.

This year's history topic was "Conflict and Compromise in History”.  The CCASM History award went to Jalyn Kennedy for her display “Tobacco Farming in Maryland”.   Jalyn attends Mattawoman Middle School.

This year's CCASM Science award for a project "demonstrating excellence and scientific thinking relevant to the field of archaeology" went to Libby Wilkerson for her science project on “The Clogged Up Earth”.  Libby attends St. Mary's Bryantown Elementary School.



Congratulations, Jalyn and Libby!


Also CCASM would like to thank Doug and Gabi Zabel who judged the science projects for the CCASM award.

A Day at the 2018 Charles County H.I.T.S. Expo

On Saturday March 24  Charles County held its third Annual History, Industry, Technology, and Science (H.I.T.S.) Expo.  There were forty-five table and six classroom activities/displays with CCASM having two of the tables.  A lot was going on.  CCASM's table included a display depicting the various archaeological skills related to history and science as well as activities around identifying Native American artifacts.

We would like to thank Elsie, Denise, Carol, and Barbara for staffing the display table.

Two Reference Books for the CCASM LIbrary

At the recent Middle Atlantic Archeology Conference (MAAC), CCASM acquired two new reference books for our Library (from Dead Guy Books). 

• Ivor Noel Hume's "A Guide to Artifacts of Colonial America"  is the main reference book for colonial artifacts in the Middle Atlantic (and beyond).
   
• Michael J. Madden and Joel C. Hardison's  "An Easy Identification Guide and Typology For Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Century Bottles"  is used by Archaeology Society of Virginia in their CAT program for bottle identification.
  

They are currently on loan for our use in the Monday Charles County Labs.

2018 MHT/ASM Archaeology Workshop

The 27th Annual Workshop in Archeology was held at the Maryland Historical Trust in Crownsville, MD, Saturday March 10, 2018. 
 
Topics and speakers included

• Stalking Panthers, Panthers, Falcons, and Bearcats in the Chesapeake - George Schwartz and David Howe (Keynote speakers)
• The Town of Secowocomoco? Archeological Investigations at Lower Brambly (18ST51), Near Chaptico, Maryland -Julia King
• Persistent Place or Just Passin' Through?  The Contact Period Component at Biggs Ford - Matt McKnight
• The Value of X-radiography in Archaeology and Conservation - Francis Lukezic
• From the Depths of History: U-1105, the Ghost Fleet, and the Efforts to Understand and Preserve Them - Troy Nowak
• Field Session Preview - Return to Calverton - Kirsti Uunila
• The 2017 Archeological Investigations at the River Farm Site in Lothian, Maryland - Zachary Singer

The CAT Workshop Preservation Laws was conducted by Charlie Hall, and the companion CAT Workshop Archaeological Ethics was conducted by Jim Gibb.

Ilka Knuppel Gray was acknowledged for being the sixteenth ASM Certified Archaeological Technician (CAT) graduate.

This is the thirtieth anniversary of Maryland Maritime Archaeology Program (MMAP).  Susan Langley, Maryland State Underwater Archaeologist, presented awards to three individuals (Donald Shomette, John Kiser, and Michael Pohuski) who have been supporting Maryland maritime archaeology since before the existence of MMAP. 

CCASM members attending included Evelyn, Pat, Jim, Carol, and Belinda. 
(We never seemed to be in the same place at the same time.  So there is no picture,)

CCASM is a chapter of ASM.

X-Radiography in Archaeology and Conservation

Francis Lukezic

At the March 8 CCASM meeting Francis Lukezic shared several projects in which X-Radiography had been used to determine more about the inside of an object.  X-rays indicated that a really rusty object wasn't a nail but the remains of embroidery scissors.  X-rays are also used to determine whether or not a Civil War musket was still loaded so that any black powder could be removed before the pistol was conserved.

X-Radiography is a technology that has been around for over one hundred years and is a cost-effective and non-destructive tool used by conservators and archaeologists to investigate artifacts where the exterior hides what's inside. 

Francis Lukezic is a conservator at the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory in Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum.

Attendance: 8