Helping With "So As Not to Forget" Project - A Continuation

On three beautiful days to be outdoors CCASM members and Esther Read returned to the Alexandria United Methodist Church Cemetery to complete the documentation of the marked and unmarked graves.  Next Jim Gibb is responsible for turning this information into a map for the cemetery.

On November 9 we divided into three groups.  Denise and Julie continued marking the head and foot of graves as well as any headstones with numbered flags.  Linda and Carol measured the length and width of the grave depressions as well as recorded any objects or plants associated with the grave.  Elsie and Esther double checked previously entered information. 

And then on November 20 we were able to finish the documentation of the flagged graves.  Again we divided into groups.  Linda and Denise in one group with Elsie and Carol in a second group measured the length and width of the grave depressions as well as recorded any objects or plants associated with the grave.  Joe blew leaves off the perimeters of the cemetery in case there might have been additional graves that we had not previously detected.  And when we couldn't find the flag associated with a certain number. Joe was tasked with finding it.  And he did.

On November 29 Elsie, Carol, and Esther helped Jim as he completed recording the location of flags using his Total Station.  (Forgot to take any pictures but here is a picture of Jim and the Total Station from the first day we worked on the site.)

For more about the project check out Helping With "So As Not to Forget" Project (Oct 24)

Using CCASM's New Sifter Screens at Rich Hill

Monday November 23 various CCASM volunteers (Elsie, Mary, Julie, Carol, Denise, Joe, Linda, and Doug) along with Esther Read looked for a very early grave site at Rich Hill.  We didn't find it, but it was a great day to be exploring outdoors.

Also we got a chance to use CCASM's new sifter screens to check out one locataion. Two of our members had made screens for us to use when CCASM is in the field.  (They were based on a screen that ASM member Dan Coates had designed to be light and easy to take into the field.)

CCASM would like to thank Frank and Doug for building the screens.

Robert Ogle's Collection from Southwestern Maryland

Amelia Chisholm

At the November 12 CCASM Zoom meeting Amelia Chisolm talked about the artifacts that Robert Ogle had collected in Anne Arundel, Prince Georges, and Charles counties.  Robert  Ogle, a surveyor, collected this material from the 1960s-2000s.  The collection is expansive and particularly significant because much of the material was recovered from sites that have subsequently been destroyed.

Archaeologists from Anne Arundel County's Cultural Resources Division are reassessing the collection.  Amelia shared photos of artifacts from the collection including some of the Paleoindian and Early Archaic projectile points, some Paleoindian and Early Archaic materials that had not previously been found in this area, and also some interesting first finds from the Zekiah Swamp region of Charles County. 

Amelia is the Archaeological Laboratory Director for Anne Arundel County's  Cultural Resources Division.

For anyone wanting to help with the curation of this collection, you can contact the volunteer coordinator at volunteers@losttownsproject.org   (Like everywhere else they have restrictions related to covid-19.)

Just to see a snapshot of some of those listening to the talk -

Attendance: 15

 

Helping with "So As Not to Forget" Project

On October 24 eight CCASM members along with Esther and Abigail, one of Esther's former UMBC students, worked with the African American Heritage Society of Charles County and the Alexandria United Methodist Church on their "So As Not to Forget" Project.  (Check out video at end of post.)

The project was to document the Alexandria United Methodist Church Cemetery that is off Chicamuxen Road in Charles County.  This church was established by a group of freedmen after the Civil War and continues to be a place of worship for descendants of these first families as well as others.  This African American cemetery contains graves with markers (both with and without names) as well as unmarked graves.  And there are graves from the nineteenth century through present day.  

Members of Alexandria United Methodist Church and other participants

CCASM started mapping the cemetery with Esther Read (who had a broken small toe but still insisted on walking around) being the archaeologist in charge.  Jim Gibb used his equipment to record locations and will provide a map for use by the Church when the work is complete.  Elsie and later Mary held the stadia rod for Jim.  Denise, Joe, Julia, Mary, Linda, Carol, Elsie, along with Abigail divided into groups and gathered information.  One group placed numbered flags at the top and at the bottom of depressions indicating graves as well as in front of any markers.  The other groups recorded information about each numbered flag.  For each grave they also recorded information such as the length and width of the grave depression; the name if there was a marker; the presence of any objects placed on the grave, e.g. a ceramic angel or a concrete swan; and the presence of plants such as yucca on or near the grave.  

While recording information near a grave that had a flat unmarked stone at it's head, a woman told us about the young girl who had been buried there.  These graves were part of this woman's family, and documenting family knowledge like hers is one of the reasons for the project.  Once Jim has provided the map to the Church, they can add names to the map.  Also the Church plans to add markers for any unmarked graves. 

It was a sunny day, and there was plenty of room to social distance.  Everyone wore masks.  We were not able to finish the mapping and will need to come back to finish.

https://youtu.be/-QAC6koi41Q  (So As Not to Forget video)

2020 ASM Fall Meeting

On Saturday November 7 the Mid-Potomac Chapter of ASM and Montgomery County Parks Archaeology hosted the 2020 Fall Archeology Society of Maryland, Inc Fall Meeting.  The entire meeting was held via Zoom but the individual presentations were also streamed live on the Mid-Potomac Chapter's Facebook Page.

The Fall Meeting started with the Annual ASM Business Meeting that also included the presentation of the 2020 William B Mayre Award to Nancy Geasey.  (Congratulations to Nancy)

The election results were also reported -- President: Claude Bowen; Vice-President: Valerie Hall; Membership Secretary: Ethan Bean; Secretary: Barbara Israel; Treasurer: Elaine Hall Chhean; At-large Trustees: Lynne Bulhack, Brent Chippendale, Aaron Jarvis, Don Housley, Jim Gibb, Katherine Fernstrom (https://marylandarcheology.org/contact.html).

But the highlight of the ASM meetings are the talks.  This year in recognition of the 100th anniversary of women receiving the right to vote by the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the   presentations focused on the various roles and contributions women have and continue to make to Maryland Archaeology.

• Frederick M. Stiner Memorial Keynote Lecture
  Growing Up Female in Maryland Archaeology or Where the Bodies are Buried
  Julia A. King, Professor of Anthropology, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
  
  
• Women's Work: The Josiah Henson Museum and Park
  Cassandra Michaud, Senior Archaeologist, Montgomery County Parks
  
  
• Iron Mermaids, Women in Diving and Underwater Archaeology
  Susan Langley, Maryland's State Underwater Archaeologist
   
• Celebrating Nine Women in Maryland Archaeology
  (Heather Bouslog, Senior Archaeologist, Montgomery County Parks)
  delivered by Valerie Hall
  

The virtual meeting was a success.  Three CCASM members "attended" the meeting.

Attendance: at least 57