CCASM Trip To Smithsonian Environmental Reseach Center

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, MD, has multiple archaeological sites on the property - some investigated in the past, some currently being investigated and some waiting to be investigated.  Of SERC's  twenty-four research labs, one is dedicated to Archaeology. 

Jim Gibb who is a Smithsonian Research Associate and in charge of the SERC Archaeology Lab (SEAL) volunteered to give CCASM members a tour of SERC that highlighted the archaeology.  So we put together a trip.  On Tuesday June 6, a beautiful day, eleven CCASM members (Mary, Peggy, Linda, Pat, Carol, Denise, Elsie, Doug, Gary, Joe, and Ned) traveled to SERC.  Actually twelve members were on the tour since Jim is also a member.

All of us in front of Woodlawn

We met Jim at the new Woodlawn History Center.  At one time this housed the archaeology lab.   Jim and volunteers (Citizen Scientists) worked during the pandemic to help create the exhibits that are in the Center today.  Really interesting.  First, there was the history of the house with parts dating to 1735,  1841, or 1970.  Inside were all these displays, many with artifacts recovered from SERC, as well as stories related to the enslaved and free people who had occupied this property.  And we got to up to the second story and into the basement where we saw the "bones" of the building.  Outside Jim pointed out the terraces leading toward the Rhode River and the eroded landscape.

Viewing displays at Entrance
(previous location of archaeology lab)

Looking at 18th Century artifacts
recovered from the property

Jim had arranged to use a Smithsonian van to carry us to the other sites.  The first site was the Java Site that had much of the brickwork still standing, even after a hurricane.  Java dates to the early eighteenth century.  Jim also pointed out where the earlier seventeenth century Sparrow's Rest had been.  (There is no overall picture of Java since the brickwork in those photos took on a moire-like design.)

Learning about the Java Site

In front of one of the Java Chimneys

After viewing Java we piled into the van again and road on a dirt road over the hill toward the Rhode River to view the site of a slave dwelling that SEAL is currently working on.  Then we went back up the hill and traveled on the main road down to the Reed Education Center on the river.  Investigations before the center was built uncovered several shell middens.  We viewed the native fishes and a really pretty Diamondback Terrapin in the Center and then walked down to the dock to enjoy the breeze.  We decided to eat our lunch overlooking the water. 

After lunch we piled back into the van for a trip to the Charles McC. Mathias Laboratory in the Main Campus.  The archaeology lab that had originally been in the Sellman House has been here in the basement for a number of years.  Jim showed us around the lab and talked about the projects that the Citizen Scientists are doing on Wednesdays.  We also got to see some of the iron artifacts from Port Tobacco North that are being processed there.

James Gibb

Iron artifacts (in process)

Checking out the lab

Jim, thanks so much for providing such an informative and interesting tour of the site.  We all really enjoyed it.

Also thanks to Doug, Gary, Joe, and Ned for driving.  And thanks to Pat and Ned for providing additional photos.