2021 April is Maryland Archaeology Month

The theme for this year's Maryland Archaeology Month is quite timely -- The Archaeology of Healing and Medicine.  Due to the pandemic the Workshop in Archeology that is normally held in March will be held in the fall.  But the Annual ASM Spring Symposium is still on and will be held virtually.  Also a number of webinars have been planned for April. 

Check out the new website https://www.marylandarcheologymonth.org
It has information about the 2021 Maryland Archaeology Month -events, articles including a downloadable booklet, sponsors, and volunteer opportunities.  There is also an archive with themes and booklets from previous Maryland Archaeology Months.  

Here is a quick look at some of what is happening --

The Archaeology of Healing and Medicine

Download 2021 Maryland Archeology Month Booklet
Interviews with Booklet Authors

On-line Webinars and Meetings during April

• Tuesday, April 6 (7pm-8:05pm)
  
  Digging History: Screening with Q&A: Archaeological Discoveries at the Hagerstown Jonathan Street Cabin
  Panelists: Nicholas Redding, Preservation Maryland; Reggie Turner, Western Maryland CDC; Dr. Julie Schablitsky, State Highway Administration; Amy Oden, Maryland Public Television
  For more info and to register  (Preservation Maryland, MDOT/SHA, MPT, Western Maryland CDC)  
  
  
  
• Thursday, April 8 (1pm-2pm) 
  
  Lunch and Learn: Recent Archeological Discoveries at Maryland's First Colonial Capital
  Speaker: Travis G. Parno, Director of Research and Collections, Historic St. Mary’s City
  For more info and to register  (Maryland State Archives in collaboration with The Enoch Pratt Free Library and The Maryland Four Centuries Project)
  
  
• Thursday, April 8 (7pm-8:30pm)
  
  An Interesting Prince Georges County Cemetery (Simon Hill)
  Speaker: Aaron Levinthal, SHA Constultant Archaeologist
  For more info
  Contact ccasm2010@gmail.com to receive a link to the Zoom meeting.  (Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc)  
  
  
  
• Thursday, April 8 (7pm-8:30pm)
  
  How Do I Get a Job in Archeology These Days?
  Join a panel of young professionals currently working in the field.  For more info
  To register  (hosted by University of Maryland for Council for Maryland Archaeology)  
  
  
  
• Thursday, April 15 (12pm-1pm) 
  
  Rockville Students Excavate the Riggs House
  Speaker: RMHS teacher Bob Hines, Richard Montgomery High School students, and others
  For more info  
  Youtube link (Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation Ltd.)
  
  
• Thursday, April 15 (1pm-2:30pm) 
  
  Finding Common Ground: Can Relic Hunters and Archaeologists Work Together?
  Join a panel of archaeologists and avocationalists for a civil conversation about positive ways to discover the marvels of the past.   For more info
  To register  (hosted by Preservation Maryland for Council for Maryland Archaeology)
    
  
• Thursday, April 15 (7pm-8pm) 
  
  Unearthing St. Mary’s Fort, the Founding Site of the Maryland Colony.
  Speaker: Travis G. Parno, Director of Research and Collections, Historic St. Mary’s City
  For more info and Youtube link  (Historic St Mary's City)
  
  
• Saturday, April 17 (9am-120pm) 
  
  55th Annual ASM Spring Symposium
  For more info and to register  (Archeology Society of Maryland, Inc) 
  
  
  
• Thursday, April 22 (2pm-3pm) 
  
  The Archaeology of Healing and Medicine
  Join a panel of archaeologists to learn about their fascinating discoveries and stories.  For more info
  To register  (hosted by Maryland Histoic Trust for Council for Maryland Archaeology) 
  
  
  
• Monday, April 26 (7pm-8pm) 
  
  Archaeology of New York State Cheese Factories (1860s-1890s)
  (not Maryland archaeology but talk by a Maryland Archaeologist)
  Speaker: James G Gibb. 
  For more info and to register  (St Mary's County Lecture Series, St Mary's Chapter of ASM) 
  
  
  
• Thursday, April 29 (7pm-8:45pm) 
  
  Tracing Piscataway Indian History into the 20th Century: Connecting Past and Present
  Join archaeologists Julia A. King and Scott M. Strickland and Piscataway Conoy Tribal Chair Francis Gray as they describe making these links for the Piscataway and the importance of the American Indian Movement to these efforts.
  For more info and to register  (hosted by St Mary's College of Maryland) 
  
  
  

2021 ASM Spring Symposium

Saturday April 19 the Archeological Society of Maryland held its 55th Annual Spring Symposium.  It was only a half day, and it was via Zoom, but it was good that we were able to "meet" this year.  The meeting was recorded.

The talks at the Symposium included

• Archaeology of the Ship Caulkers' Houses at Fell's Point
  Lisa Krauss and Jason Shellenhamer
   
• ASM Student Spotlight
  
  Comparing Caribbean plantation landscapes and Chesapeake plantations in their setup and use of space
  Rebecca Davis
  
     
  
• The Iris McGillivray Memorial Lecture
  
  Some St. Mary's City Research
  Henry M. Miller
   
• The Richard E Stearns Memorial Lecture   
  
  Meadowcroft Rock Shelter: Retrospect 2021
  James M. Adovasio

CCASM members "attending" included Denise, Carol, and Elsie.

CCASM is a chapter of ASM. 

http://marylandarcheology.org/symp/springsymposium2021.html

April declared Charles County Archaeology Month (2021)

Once again 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 would like to thank the Commissioners for recognizing the importance of archaeology in Charles County.  2021 is the second year the presentation of the Proclamation could not be made in person. 

In the Field at Maxwell Hall Park

Monday April 12 Esther, Elsie, Denise, Mary, Julie, and Carol returned to Maxwell Hall Park.  This time it was to start looking for clues indicating previous occupations - Native American or historic.  There had been a seventeenth century plantation house somewhere in this area.  Although there are equestrian and hiking trails in the park, we were looking at areas off the beaten path.  This resulted in a five mile hike through the woods on which fire-cracked rocks, debitage, and bricks were encountered. 

Looking at the lidar map for the area

Walking beside an old sunken road

Monday March 15 was another beautiful day for being in the field --this time to document the ruins of an old house (early 20th C?) at Maxwell Hall Park as well as the features near the ruins.   Esther Read, County Archaeologist, along with CCASM volunteers Denise, Mary, Elsie, and Carol recorded data on graph paper for several features.  In the afternoon Denise and Mary learned how to do a triangulation survey between the main features so that Esther could create a composite map of the site.

Checking out the foundation

Measuring the hole
next to the well

Measuring the foundation

Thanks to Carol and Esther for the pictures.

An Interesting Prince George's County Cemetery Project

Aaron Levinthal

At the April 8 CCASM Zoom meeting Aaron Levinthal told how the State Highway Department relocated graves from an abandoned late 19th through mid-20th century African American cemetery known as Simon Hill.  These graves were not supposed to have been there.  Years ago the St. Paul Baptist Church had paid to have the graves relocated.  In the intervening years trees had grown on the property, but there was evidence that some graves still remained.

Aaron related how they recovered over forty full burials and over twenty partial burials from the site.  From the beginning the project included public outreach and cooperation with a congregation and descendant community.  One of the burials that was encased in a metal vault contained a woman.  Historical and genealogical research and subsequent DNA testing identified this woman.  The remains of all the burials were reburied in Maryland National Memorial Cemetery.

There are four MPT videos on "The Dig: A Maryland Mystery Lady" that tells about this project.  Here are the links to Part One  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4.

Aaron Levinthal is a Consultant Archaeologist with the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration.

A snapshot of those listening to the talk -

Attendance: 10