Interpreting West Ashcom (Cremona Estate): Drones, Artifacts, and Archives

Liza Gijanto

At the April 11 CCASM meeting Liza Gijanto related the efforts of archeologists and students from St. Mary’s College of Maryland to find the former West Ashcom homestead at the Cremona Estate on the Patuxent River.  The site was compromised by years of plowing that breaks bricks and other artifacts into small pieces.  First, Liza took us through seventeenth century records of the Ashcom family to indicate what might have been on the site.

Surface collection, GPR, magnetometry, and drone scans were used to determine where to investigate.  Also a drone was used to document the progress of the excavations.  And drone photos along with  hand-held cameras were used to create a 3-D image of the excavation - brick foundation, cellar with dirt steps, and all -  that could be rotated.

One of the more interesting artifacts found was one of only two known glass bottle seals in Maryland made for a woman - Martha Ashcom Dansey.

Dr. Liza Gijanto is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at St. Mary's College of Maryland.   Liza runs the archaeology track of the Gambia Field Studies Program and overseas the Cremona Fellows Program.

Attendance: 8