2014 ESAF Meeting

The Archaeological Society of Maryland (ASM) hosted the Eastern States Archaeological Federation (ESAF) Meeting.  The meeting was held October 30-November 1 at the Holiday Inn in Solomons, Maryland.  ESAF is the association of state (and provincial) archaeological societies in the eastern United States and Canada.  Although a high percentage of those attending were from Maryland,  around ten states and at least two Canadian provinces were represented. 

Lots of interesting talks.  Lots of nice (and interesting) people. 

Ten sessions with 73 presentations were presented over two days (October 31-November 1). The session titles were Indigenous Landscapes of the Chesapeake, D.C. Archeology, Contributing Papers (from Maryland), East Coast Shell Middens, Recent Landscape and Garden Archaeology in New Jersey, Recent Preservation Efforts on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Contributing Papers (from Pennsylvania northwards), Archaeological Investigations of the Labor Force at Catoctin Furnace, War of 1812 in the Chesapeake and Beyond, Pig Point on the Patuxent. Click to see titles and speakers

There was a reception at the Calvert Marine Museum the evening of October 31.  This was followed by the traditional Canadian-American Friendship Party.  The Mid-Potomac ASM Chapter and CCASM were the American hosts.

Henry Miller was the speaker after the Saturday evening banquet, and he regaled us with the history of archaeology at St Marys City. 

Although only three CCASM members attended the conference, they did assist with the conference.  Also CCASM provided the projector for one of the conference rooms.

CCASM is a chapter of ASM.

2014 ASM Field School - The Fall Classic

October 10 - 20 the Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc (ASM) conducted a Field School and Lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, MD near Annapolis.  Dr. Jim Gibb was the principal investigator, and he was assisted by Sarah Grady and George Riseling.  Both Jim and Sarah are members of CCASM.  Other CCASM members participating for a least one day were Carol, Lindsey, and Annetta.

The principal excavation area involved seventeenth century middens with lots of oysters and nails as well as lots of early seventeenth century pipe bowls - several with maker's marks.  Everyone had the opportunity to trowel (which is not often the case).   Laboratory work was done at the Sellman House. The weather was sunny on the weekends, but a little iffy during the week.  The tents came in handy.  Fieldwork only had to be cancelled on one day.  That day there was also an opportunity to help sort, catalog, and label.  It was really an interesting site and an enjoyable field session.

Archaeology - Rain

Or Shine

And in the Lab

CCASM is a chapter of ASM.

Charles and Eleanor Butler

Julie King

Dr. Julia King joined us for CCASM's October 9th meeting and enticed us with the story of Eleanor, an Irish immigrant, and Charles Butler, an enslaved African.  The pair met while working at Notley Hall on the Wicomico River and married in 1681 in Maryland.  People, including Lord Baltimore, traveled miles upon miles to see the spectacle.  Shortly before their marriage, a law was imposed stating a wife shall take her husband's status upon marriage (Eleanor would enslave herself) and this law was abolished shortly after the marriage of Charles and Eleanor Butler but did not exempt them from the law.   Dr. King used the archaeological record to reconstruct this narrative.  Interestingly, one descendant of the Butlers attended the talk.

Dr. King is a professor of anthropology at St. Mary's College of Maryland.  She is also the former Director of the MAC Lab at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum and the former Southern Maryland Regional Archaeologist.

Attendance: 19

Posting submitted by Sarah and photos provided by Carol.

Charles County Fair

The Charles County Fair is being held Sept 11-14.   The Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco (SRPT) submitted an educational display on "Port Tobacco Through the Years: Past Glory, Decline, Restoration, Vision for the Future".  Photos relating to CCASM as well as to other organizations working with SRPT are included in the exhibit. 

For CCASM there are photos of the Port Tobacco excavations done by the Archaeology Society of Maryland and by the Port Tobacco Archaeological Project.  The opportunity for people to volunteer at these excavations at Port Tobacco actually led to the formation of CCASM.  Other photos highlight CCASM's public awareness displays and activities at Port Tobacco Market Day and Ghost Walk.  One photo represents all the talks relating to Port Tobacco archaeology that have been given at a CCASM meetings.

You will have to go to the fair to see the rest.  The exhibit can be seen in the Garden Building.

1814 Battle of the Potomac

Patrick O'Neill

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner, Patrick O'Neill joined us for our CCASM meeting on September 11th to give a talk on the Battle of the Potomac and the burning of Washington. He described how Maryland and Virginia militias engaged British warships on the Potomac between August and September of 1814 and how these efforts gave Baltimore time to build their defenses before the British attacked Baltimore.

Patrick O’Neill has been a professional archaeologist and historian for over 30 years. He received a BS in Anthropology from Kansas State University and an MA in History from West Texas A & M University.   Patrick is past President of the Archeological Society of Virginia, and historian for the Kittiewan Plantation in Charles City County, Virginia.

CCASM would like to thank Patrick for donating a signed copy of his book "To Annoy or Destroy the Enemy", The Battle of the White House after the Burning of Washington to the CCASM Library.

Attendance: 22

Posting submitted by Sarah and photos provided by Carol.