2026 April is Maryland Archaeology Month

250 Years, Many Voices: Digging into Maryland's Story

Join
 - Maryland Historical Trust's Office of Archaeology,
 - Archeological Society of Maryland,
 - Council for Maryland Archeology, 
 - Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs,
 - and dozens of other organizations and individuals
in a statewide celebration of Maryland's archeological heritage!

 
Check out https://www.marylandarcheologymonth.org/ to learn more about Maryland Archaeology Month


View/download  2026 Maryland Archeology Month Articles

View www.marylandarcheologymonth.org/2026-events
 to find public archaeology opportunities at various sites throughout the state.

CCASM Events during April
(All events are free.)  

Thursday, April 16 (7 pm) - Charles County
(CCASM April meeting)
Topic: Is It or Isn't It?: In Search of the Early Jesuit Mission at Potopaco
Speaker: Dr. Julia King

It can be hard to recognize Maryland's earliest English settlements, especially those on the far frontier. Archaeological investigations in 2023 and 2024 at St. Thomas Manor, a Jesuit plantation established ca. 1638 along the Port Tobacco River, revealed a smattering of artifacts from the 17th century. Taking the form of a whodunit, this presentation marshals documentary and archaeological evidence and invites audience participation to solve this compelling mystery: who were the Jesuit priests who left behind these ephemeral traces and what does this tell us about the first decades of life on the colonial frontier? 

Location: La Plata Police Department, 101 La Grange Avenue La Plata, MD
Sponsor: Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc 
Contact: Carol Cowherd  ccasm2010@gmail.com 

Saturday, April 25 (3 pm) - Charles County
Topic: Archaeology Basics with Charles County Archaeological Society
Speaker: Linda Talley

Ever wondered how scientists and historians learn about human past? That's archaeology!  In this exciting presentation, Linda Talley from the Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland will explain what archaeology is, what an archaeologist does, and even how you can be involved with it! 

Location: Charles County Public Library - Waldorf West, 10405 O'Donnell Pl, Waldorf, MD 20603 
Sponsor: Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc
Contact: Linda Talley  ccasm2010@gmail.com 

Thursday, April 30 (6 pm) - Charles County
Topic: Archaeology Basics with Charles County Archaeological Society
Speaker: Linda Talley

Ever wondered how scientists and historians learn about human past? That's archaeology!  In this exciting presentation, Linda Talley from the Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland will explain what archaeology is, what an archaeologist does, and even how you can be involved with it! 

Location: Charles County Public Library, 2 Garrett Ave, La Plata, MD 20646
Sponsor: Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc
Contact: Linda Talley  ccasm2010@gmail.com 

 

An Afternoon at the Charles County HITS Expo - 2026

On Saturday March 21 Charles County Public Schools once again held its History, Industry, Technology, and Science (H.I.T.S.) Expo at St Charles High School in Waldorf, Maryland.  There were forty-five tables and six classroom activities/presentations sponsored by different organizations and school groups with CCASM having two of the tables.  A lot was going on with a variety of hands-on activities to engage the students (and the adults).

CCASM's tables included a display depicting the various archaeological skills related to history and science as well as a display with most aspects of an investigation from digging shovel test pits to writing the report.  But most of our table space was devoted to two activities.  One was called "Archaeologists Dig for Clues" and the other was called "What is it?"  We had fun working with the students and their parents as they completed the activities.

Happy to be at the HITS Expo

Completing What Is It? test

Learning about artifacts 

Thanks to Claudia, Denise, Linda, and Carol for being there to interact with the students and their parents.  Also thanks to Ned for helping to set up.

Click to see the winner of the special History Day award sponsored by the Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc.

2026 Charles County History Day

On March 21, 2026 the combined Charles County Public Schools Annual History Day  and the Annual Science Fair (now referred to as H.I.T.S.) was once again held at the St Charles High School in Waldorf, Maryland.  CCASM sponsored one of the special History awards.  The award was $50 and a one-year membership in CCASM.  

 

 

This year's history topic was "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History".  

The CCASM special History award went to Amina Ziden for the display “Maryland Women’s Suffrage Movement”.   Amina attends Matthew Henson Middle School. 

Congratulations, --- Amina!

We normally also sponsor a Science Fair award, but we did not have judges this year.  An organization has to provide the judges for their award.

Revolutionary Homefront in Charles County

Esther Doyle Read

At the March 19 CCASM Meeting Esther Read reviewed the events at the start of the Revolutionary War and how people in Charles County became aware of the events and how they were affected.   Of special interest was the 1774 Articles of Association that banned importation of goods from Britain, Ireland, and other territories in the British Empire because one Port Tobacco man did acquire goods that were banned under the Articles.  Esther relayed the story of James Graham, a Port Tobacco tailor, that resided on Lot 4 in Port Tobacco.  It turns out that the Swann Oyster House Site that CCASM have been helping to investigate is on Lot 4.  

Esther Doyle Read is the Archaeologist for Charles County Planning and Growth.  She is also an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Ancient Studies at UMBC

Once again this was a hybrid meeting with most of the people and the speaker attending in person.  Thanks to Jim for allowing us to use his Zoom account, and thanks to Peggy and Natalia for providing the hotspot.   

Attendance: 20  (5 via Zoom)