2019 ASM Field Session - Billingsley

From May 24 through June 2 the Archeological Society of Maryland, Inc (ASM) along with Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) were at the Billingsley Site (18PR9) in Prince George's County Maryland for the 2019 Field Session.   Matt McKnight, Chief Archeologist at MHT, and Stephanie Sperling, Senior Archaeologist at Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, were  the principal investigators.

The Billingsley Site (18PR9) dates to the prehistoric and contact periods.  It is depicted on Augustine Herrman's 1670 map as a Native American village named Wighkamameck.  The site is also mentioned in the Proceedings of the Maryland Assembly on May 23, 1674, as the last known home of the Patuxent Indians. 

Multiple units were opened in three locations where the Magnetic Susceptibility Meter had indicated high readings (anomalies).  One unit where the Meter had shown little or no anomalies was also opened as a "control".  The soil was initially screen through 1/4" mesh screens.  To try to recover smaller artifacts every tenth bucket of soil was water screened through 1/8' mesh screens.  A good deal of fire cracked rocks were recovered.  Here are just three of the other artifacts recovered.  (The black chert point was unique.)

Points

Accokeek Sherd

Since it was quite hot, all the units as well as the screening areas were covered with tents to try to keep the people in shade.  The photo below shows the site early on.  The tent farthest back is the lab tent.  And the two individuals on the far right are the principal investigators - Stephanie in the blue shirt and Matt wearing a red bandana on his head.

The tents indicate the units, the screening areas, and the lab at the site

 On two days a drone took photos of the site.  (Thanks to Roy Brown for the drone photo.)

Drone ascending

Other activities going on during the Field Session

• Spencer Geasey Memorial Lecture
  ( 2 concurrent events at Mount Calvert Historical and Archaeological Park )
  --Behind-the-scenes Tour of the Mount Calvert Grounds and Museum Exhibits with Kristin Montaperto
--Archeological Overview of the Patuxent River's Jug Bay Area from pontoon boat with Stephanie Sperling 

• Saturday Lunchtime talk
  “Artifacts Are Not Wild Onions” - Rico Newman, member of the Choptico Band of the Piscataway Conoy tribe talked about humanizing the things we find on American Indian sites
    
• CAT Survey Workshop
  Learning to use the Magnetic Susceptibility Meter and to help ground truth results using Shovel Test Pits 

At least three CCASM members attended for one or more days.

In control Unit

Water Screening

Using Magnetic Susceptibility Meter

CCASM is a chapter of ASM.