March 23, 2015

Labeling Native American Collection - Part 1 Completed

At last the MAC Lab lot numbers have been printed on the bag tags as well as on the bags themselves for all the artifacts recovered by CCASM at a Native American site near Bryans Road.  Saturday March 21 Peggy, Barbara, and Carol stayed until the last bag was processed.   Labeling Part 1 has been completed. 

Barbara, Carol, and Peggy working on the last bags

Thanks to all those who helped - Merritt, Carol, Lindsey, Gary, Rich, Sarah, Barbara, Peggy, Noelle, Debbie, and George.

The collection (sixteen boxes of artifacts) is to be donated to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab) at JPPM.  In 2013 Patricia Samford, Director of the MAC Lab, was contacted to find out the requirements for a collection to be accepted, and CCASM is trying to ensure that those requirements are met.  CCASM met with Rebecca Moorehouse, Curator for  State Collections, at the MAC Lab.  She reviewed how we had processed and bagged the collection and indicated no changes were needed.  At that time a range of MAC Lab lot numbers were provided.  These numbers needed to be added 1) to the bag tags and the bags themselves and 2) to the artifacts.

So Labeling Part 1 has been completed.  CCASM is looking for help with Labeling Part 2.  Any ideas?

Here are the previous lab days ---

Lindsey, Peggy, Gary

Gary, Lindsey, Peggy, Sarah, Rich, and Carol came out Saturday February 28.  We finished over five boxes, more than on any other lab day.  The boxes contained artifacts from Test Units 1-7, and there were lots of interesting artifacts identified to be photographed later.  Only four more boxes remain to be processed for this phase of adding the MAC Lab lot numbers to the bag tags and to the bags.  YEA!!

Saturday January 24 we reached a minor milestone.  We finished adding the MAC Lab lot numbers to the bag tags and the bags for all of the STPs as well started working on Test Unit 1.  YEA!!  So we have finished six of the eighteen boxes.  However, these six boxes represent about half the artifact bags.  The Test Units have a lot more artifacts per bag, and so the bags take up more space.

Lindsey, Barbara, Debbie (not a member but definitely a welcome addition), Carol, Rich, and Noelle showed up to help.  Luckily the weather forecast changed Friday night, and the lab didn't have to be postponed.  There was no snow on Saturday, just rain. 
Debbie, Barbara, Lindsey
Rich, Noelle

There was only one person able to attend the November 8 lab, but it was held any way.  Any time spent puts us that much closer to the end.

Carol took some of the unlabeled artifacts to the ASM Field School at SERC and had a min-lab on the evening of October 14.  George Riseling, another ASM member helping at the Field School, helped.

Noelle (the new CCASM secretary), Lindsey, Peggy, Gary, and Carol continued to add the MAC Lab lot numbers on Saturday September 27.  We finished STP transects F-K.  So we are definitely making progress.  With the ASM Field School as well as the ESAF Conference in October it will be several weeks before another Saturday is available for scheduling a lab. 


The first lab for adding the MAC Lab lot numbers to the bag tags and to the bags was held Saturday September 13.  It was also a chance to to see the artifacts and check the catalog.  And Barbara took pictures of some of the artifacts that were diagnostic or were just interesting.  Others helping out were Lindsey, Peggy, Carol, and Merritt (a new member).

We finished STP transects A-E.  This is about one third of the STP bags, and there are still Test Unit bags to go.  So expect future labs.

March 22, 2015

2015 Charles County History Day

The 17th Annual Charles County History Day competition was held March 21, 2014.  CCASM sponsored one of the special awards.  This year's topic was "Leadership and Legacy in History".


The CCASM award of $50 and a one-year membership in CCASM went to Owen Butler for his individual exhibit entitled "Robert Crain and His Road to a Legacy".  Owen attends Piccowaxen Middle School.

Congratulations, Owen.

March 14, 2015

Ghost Fleet of Mallow's Bay

Donald Shomette
At the March 12 CCASM meeting Don Shomette related the history of the WWI ships that are now in Mallow's Bay, a vast ship graveyard on the western shore of Charles County.  Volunteer underwater archaeologists have also found a revolutionary ship and possibly a Civil War barge there.  Don is a historian and underwater archaeologist as well as the author of several local history books including Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay and Other Tales of the Lost Chesapeake.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has accepted the Mallows Bay nomination for National Marine Sanctuary status, and the nomination has moved to inventory status.  The site has also been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.


Attendance: 22

February 13, 2015

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

January 9, 2015

Archaeology in the Parks

Kristin Montaperto & Emily Swain
Those braving the cold on January 8 to attend the CCASM meeting heard two interesting talks related to archeology associated with Prince George's County Parks.  Both speakers work for the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
First, Emily Swain talked about the archaeology at Mount Calvert Historical and Archaeological Park associated with Stoddard's Ordinary, a seventeenth century tavern/inn.  She also described how earthfast buildings were constructed and how the archaeology could help determine the construction method used.  This year there are plans to do archaeology at Mt. Calvert related to the area believed to contain slave housing.  Emily indicated the CCASM chapter would be welcome to participate.


Next Dr. Kristin Montaperto related ways for engaging the local community in the archaeology being done at a given site as well as collaborating with the community.  Kristin provided examples of this for several Prince George's County Park sites.  She also gave us some ideas of things CCASM could try in Charles County.


Some of those making it out on a cold, cold night
Attendance: 10