Updates from the Field

On September 10 CCASM conducted their first Zoom monthly meeting.

James Gibb

Archeological volunteer activities in Charles County were put on hold in March.  However, archaeologist Jim Gibb (sometimes by himself and other times with a very small group of people) was able to go out into the field.  At the September meeting, Jim provided updates for two of these projects. 

Cadaver dogs were used at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, MD, to locate the 1685 grave of Thomas Frances and a grave marked with "A.S." that make have been in the nineteenth century Sellman Cemetery.  It was hoped the dogs might also located graves of enslaved people or tenants that had worked there. The dogs did find several locations that could be unmarked graves.   Remote sensing was used around these locationa.
For more detailed information, check out  SERC-Hunt for Historic Graves

 

Jim and a small crew completed a Phase III investigation at the Mill Branch Crossing Site in Bowie that is destined to be developed.   Several buildings and other features were revealed.  This was the location an in-tact mid-18th-century (1720-1770) plantation called Amptill Grange. But the Amptill Grange tract goes back to 1670.

Jim is the owner of Gibb Archaeological Consulting and a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

Normally we try to show a photo of those in attendance.  This time we can only show the Zoom photos even though some photos show the ceiling rather than the person.

Attendance: 12