Archaeology on School Visits to Port Tobacco (Spring 2023)

The numbers of stops for visits of Charles County School second graders to the Historic Port Tobacco Village has now been expanded to include "archaeology" at the James Swann Site.  The County has recently acquired this property where a free African American had an inn and oyster house in the mid 1800's.

Esther Read,  Charles County Archaeologist, has planned age-appropriate activities to introduce the students to archaeology and to the site.  CCASM members will be assisting. 

The Wednesday, May 10, school visit was the last one for this school year.  There were nineteen 2nd graders, and we used the same procedure as last Monday but with different helpers.  Once again Charlie took half the children to Stagg Hall.  But Esther gave the introduction to archaeology.   Denise, Elsie, and Carol helped with the artifact washing while Ned and Kathleen from Charles County Preservation helped with the vesselization. 

Waiting for the children to arrive
(shows the 3 different stations)

On Monday, May 8,  seventeen 2nd graders were divided into two groups. While Charlie from Charles County Tourism took half the children to Stagg Hall, the remainder stayed with us in front of the Courthouse.  First, Linda gave a child's level introduction to archaeology.  Then each child got a chance to wash artifacts and to try to find pottery sherds that pieced together.  Malinda, Elsie, and Carol helped with the artifact washing while Ned, Kathy, and Esther helped with the vesselization.  Next the two groups swapped. 

On Monday, May 1, we had to adjust plans for the elementary school students’ visit. Heavy rain over the weekend prevented students from touring the Swann House Site due to wet conditions. So Esther and Linda did presentations to the students inside the courthouse. Then they came outside where Elsie, Denise, Ned, Linda, and Esther helped the students assemble pottery sherds (vesselization) on the benches.

On Wednesday, April 19--

Unit in foreground.
Wash Table in background.

A Screaming Good Time had at James Swann House Site. 

A 3x3’ test unit was set up for the 2nd graders.  Twenty-one children were divided into four groups. 
Esther ran the excavation of the test unit. Linda ran the wash table. Ned ran the two sifting screens. Doug filled in as needed, and brought dirt to be screened. We all had fun. The kids were great at finding oyster shell, brick, and pottery sherds.

Thanks to Ned for info and Picture