2025 ASM Field Session -Is Here!

2025 ASM Field Session started Friday May 23.  You can still register at the site.
If you are part of a large group, you need to let them know when you are coming and how many.  

In case of inclement weather - Simply send an email to Zachary.Singer@maryland.gov and you will receive an “Out of Office” reply with the current Field Session status for that day.

The Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc (ASM) in cooperation with Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) will hold its 2025 Tyler Bastian Field Session at the Teagues Point archeological site (18CH1005), near Hughesville, Maryland, from May 23 - June 2, 2025

The site is a mystery.  It was only assigned a site number in September 2023 after a resident contacted MHT about a site on which he had collected artifacts decades ago.  The pottery sherds, tobacco pipes, glass bottle fragments, and other artifacts point to the seventeenth century.  MHT conducted a GPR survey of the area the resident identified.  So now we need to ground truth and see what we can learn about the site.

For more background on the site as well as more information on the field session - what to bring, and anything else you want to know about the field session, check out  2025 ASM Field Session   

On-line registration is closed but it will be possible to register on site.

Selected info about the field session--
The usual work day begins at 8:30 am (except for the first day when it is 10:30).
Things to bring include drinking water, bug spray, sun screen, hat, rain gear, work gloves, your lunch, and a folding chair for lunch time.  A What to Bring Guide and directions was mailed to registrants.

The Field Session is to introduce lay persons to archeological methods and to teach Maryland's past through hands-on involvement while making meaningful contributions to the study of Maryland archeology.  Survey, excavation, feature definition, and lab work will be taking place on site.

Other things happening

• Lunchtime Lecture (on site)
• Tuesday, May 27
  Sherds for Nerds - discussion on identifying and interpreting colonial ceramics.
  Silas Hurry
  

• Annual Spencer O. Geasey Memorial Lecture  
• Wednesday, May 28 Evening (7pm)
   Topic:     Landscape Archaeology at Maxwell Hall State Park
   Speaker: Esther Doyle Read, Charles County Archaeologist 
  
  Maxwell Hall (House) 
  17388 Teagues Point Rd, Hughesville, MD  Map
  
  
• Lunchtime Lecture (on site)
• Thursday, May 29
  Revisiting Serenity’s Surprise - an overview of recent archaeological investigations of nearby
  colonial sites.
  Aaron Levinthal
  
  
• The annual “feast”
  
  • Saturday, May 31 (4 pm)
    Maxwell Hall (Pavilion)
    17388 Teagues Point Rd, Hughesville, MD  Map
    
    Bring a camp chair and enjoy the usual “backyard BBQ” faire with your fellow volunteers and Field Session staff.  

Cost 
If you attend/pay for 3 days you can attend additional days for free (but you still need to register.)

• ASM Member              $20/day  (maximum $60)
• Non-ASM Member      $25/day  (maximum  $75)
• Student (under 18)          $5/day  (maximum $15)
         
•  2025 Field Session T-Shirt   $25 (need to pre-order)

We will have eleven days to investigate the site, and then the units will be filled in. The artifacts not washed at the field session will be washed, and all artifacts will be catalogued.  A report will be written.  The report or at least an update for the Field Session will be presented at the ASM Fall Meeting that this year is also in Charles County - October 18 at Maryland Veterans Museum.

Lodging:  Lodging Options

Directions to site (abbreviated):
From MD-5 South 

Take the MD-231 exit (Prince Frederick/Hughesville)
At first traffic circle take third exit (into next traffic circle)
At next traffic circle take first exit onto MD-231
Continue on MD-231 for 5.2 miles and turn left on Maxwell Drive
(If you see the Pautuxent River, you have gone too far.)
Go to the end of Maxwell Drive  (There should be signs.)

From MD-4 South

Turn west (at traffic light) onto MD-231
Continue on MD-231 for 7.1 miles and turn left on Maxwell Drive
(Maxwell Drive is just past Serenity Farm)
Go to the end of Maxwell Drive  (There should be signs.)

CCASM is a chapter of ASM.