ASM Field School, SERC, and the Anthrocene

James Gibb

At the May 12 CCASM Meeting Jim Gibb presented some of the findings from the 2015 Archeological Society of Maryland's Fall Field School that was conducted at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC).   The field school uncovered  deposits associated with John Contee's Java Plantation and one of the slave houses, both dating to the first half of the 19th century.  Jim talked about placing what was found into the larger context of life in the Anthropocene, the Age of Humans, and explained the hypothesis that drives archaeological research at the SERC.  He is looking at how household choices contributed to global changes.

Dr. James Gibb is an archaeological consultant and a Smithsonian Research Associate.

The talk was followed by the annual CCASM business meeting that included the results of the biennial election of the CCASM officers and Board members-at-large.

Attendance: 10

Shaw's Folly and Sparrow's Rest

Jim Gibb

Evidently cold doesn't keep away those wanting to hear more about archeology.  At the February 12 CCASM meeting Smithsonian Research Associate Dr. Jim Gibb talked about archaeology being done at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Anne Arundel County.  This included investigations of two neighboring 1660s plantation sites, Shaw's Folly and Sparrow's Rest, that had similar cultural artifacts.  Anyone interested in volunteering on Wednesdays at SERC should contact Jim (jamesggibb@verizon.net).

We also met Esther Read, the archaeologist who does contract work for Charles County Planning.  As part of the commemoration the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's assassination, Charles County is planning several events on April 18-19.  Esther is in charge of archaeology associated with Rich Hill where the fleeing Booth stayed.  She would welcome any CCASM members who would like to help in archival research or at the site.  More info to come.

Some of those making it out on another cold, cold night

Attendance: 10

Archaeology and the Citizen-Scientist at SERC

Jim Gibb

On October 8 Dr. James Gibb of Gibb Archaeological Consulting talked about the on-going excavations he is conducting on Sellman’s Connection, a 500-acre tract that is now part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Anne Arundel County.  This August SERC added this archaeological pilot study that combines students, interns, all sorts of volunteers, and professional scientists in the study of human-environment interaction on its 2600-acre preserve.  Jim showed some of the archaeological results that is beginning to show how a single family (the Sellmans, 1729-1917) adapted to environmental changes.  For an overview view SERC blog posting

If you would like to volunteer to work with Jim at the site, you can see the volunteer schedule as well as tentative findings at Volunteer at Sellmans Connection.

 
We would especially like to thank Jim for agreeing to give this talk on such short notice.

Also at the meeting there were photos of a possible site that CCASM plans to visit.  CCASM would like to start identifying more archaeological sites in Charles County and submitting the Maryland Historical Trust Site Forms so archaeologists will be aware of the sites.

Attendance: 10