The Discovery of St. Mary's Fort

Dr. Travis Parno

CCASM returned to Zoom for the December 9 meeting.  Travis Parno described the documentary and archaeological history of the search for St. Mary's Fort.  St. Mary's Fort was the palisaded enclosure built by the first English colonists who arrived in Maryland in the spring of 1634 .  It was occupied for about nine years.  Travis took us through how the fort was recently rediscovered using geophysical and archaeological surveys. 

There are years of work ahead as the fort as well as two nearby earlier indigenous sites continue to be investigated.  We are looking forward to learning what stories these excavations and the artifacts recovered from them will tell. 

Current Perception of St. Mary's Fort

Earlier Indigenous Sites Near Fort

Dr. Travis Parno is the Director of Research and Collections, Historic St. Mary's City, and the Director of the People-to-People Project.

We would like to thank James Gibb for hosting the Zoom meeting.  Sorry no photo of the Zoom attendees that included at least two members now residing outside Maryland.

Attendance: 14 people

Burch House on 2021 Holiday Tour

Welcome to Burch House

CCASM hosted Burch House on the 2021 Charles County Holiday Tour that was December 4-5 (11am - 4pm).   Eleven other sites also participated in the event.  

Visitors were able to enjoy Christmas decorations from a simpler time, learn about the history and archaeology of Burch House, and see some of the tools archaeologists use.  Children were given activity-to-go bags.  

There were only twenty-six visitors on Saturday and nine visitors on Sunday, but we enjoyed talking with all of them.

Checking out Archaeology
Done at Burch House

Pointing out Ghost Image
of Stairs 

Looking at Artifacts
Recovered at Port Tobacco

Thanks to Elsie, Linda, Peggy, Denise, Claudia, and Carol for volunteering to be at Burch House during the event.  And thanks to Mary for putting together the activity-to-go bags.