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| Patricia Samford |
At the May 12 CCASM Zoom meeting Dr. Patricia Samford indicated what oral traditions and historical documents have revealed about ways enslaved individuals relied upon visual cues, especially celestial ones like the Big Dipper, for making their way through
the landscape toward the north.
She also discussed evidence
from caches at six archaeological sites in Maryland that suggest the heavens, especially stars, had a special significance to enslaved individuals. The first example was a
cache of artifacts discovered in Charles County at the Hawksmoor
Plantation, also know as Johnsontown, under a set of steps leading into the planter’s house from
the kitchen. The designs on one coin and two buttons included multiple five-pointed stars. There were examples from other caches of astericks (possible representing six-pointed stars) on various objects.
Patricia Samford has been the Director of Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum (JPPM) for the past fifteen years.
Patricia reminded us that every year JPPM has a Public Archeology Program to give volunteers the opportunity to see what it is like to be an archaeologist and excavate an actual site. This year they are investigating the Mellon Field that dates 1660-1680. Volunteers can come for an hour and a day on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during May through the first week in June.
The CCASM Annual Business Meeting followed Tricia's talk. In addition to reports by the officers, Denise provided the election results for the Officers and Board (June 2022 - May 2024): president- Carol Cowherd, vice president- Patricia Vazquez, secretary- Doug Zabel, treasurer- Elsie Picyk, additional board members- Mike Creveling and Peggy Knoernschild.
A snapshot of some of those at the meetings -
We would like to thank James Gibb for hosting the Zoom meeting.
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