2017 ASM Spring Symposium agenda

Saturday April 8 the Archeological Society of Maryland held its Annual Spring Symposium at the Maryland Historical Trust in Crownsville, MD.  

The talks at the Symposium included

• Archaeology in Support of Activism: The Hill Community ProjectTracy Jenkins, PhD student at University of Maryland, College Park
   
• ASM Student Spotlight: Using Archaeology to Find and Interpret the Role of Children in the Colonial Chesapeake
  Catherine Dye, senior at At Mary's College
   
• The Archaeological Conservancy at Work in the East: Recent Acquisitions and Projects
  Andy Stout, Eastern Regional Directory fo The Archaeological Conservancy
   
• Field School: Calverton Site
  Kirsti Uunila, Calvert County Archaeologist and Historic Preservation Planner
   
• The Iris McGillivray Memorial Lecture: Archeology’s Role in African American Critical Geography
  Cheryl LaRoche, Department of American Studies, University of Maryland, College Park
   
•  Oakley Cabin
  Heather Bouslog, M-NCPPC Department of Parks
   
• The Richard E. Stearns Memorial Lecture: The Powhatan Landscape
  Dr. Martin Gallivan, Professor in Anthropology Department, William and Mary

CCASM members attending included Carol, Annetta, Elsie, and Belinda.
  

CCASM is a chapter of ASM.  

April proclaimed as Charles County Arcaheology Month (2017)

On Tuesday April 4 the Charles County Commissioners proclaimed the month of April as Archaeology Month in Charles County (to coincide with Maryland Archaeology Month).  Charles County has a rich history and heritage, exemplified by historic buildings, cultural landmarks, natural features, and local rituals.  The county is enhanced by historic preservation associations, groups, and professionals who donate countless hours and dollars to preserve our history.

CCASM members Carol, Elsie, and Sheila received the proclamation and then gave each of the Commissioners and the Deputy Commissioner a Maryland Archaeology Month poster along with the accompanying brochure.

April is Maryland Archaeology Month

2017 Maryland Archaeology Month Booklet








Click for 2017 Maryland Archaeology Month Activities

Events in Charles County plus other selected Events
(All events are free unless otherwise noted.)


April 1 - 29 
Maryland Archaeology Month Display at La Plata Library
Sponsor: CCASM

April 3, 10, 17, 24  (11am-3:30pm)
Public Archeology Lab 
Volunteer at the on-going Public Archaeology Lab and process artifacts recovered from various archaeology initiatives in Charles County.
Location: Historic Port Tobacco Village, MD 20677
Sponsor: CCASM and Charles County Government 
Contact: Carol Cowherd  ccasm2010@gmail.com

April 6  (7 pm) - Calvert County
Tracing Piscataway Indian History on the Ground 
Julia A. King with Francis Gray, Tribal Chair, and Mario Harley, Council Member, Piscataway Conoy Tribe will talk about exciting new discoveries and how this information will be used by the tribe to tell their story.
Location: Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, 10515 Mackall Road, Saint Leonard, MD 20685
Contact: Kate Dinnel phone: 410-586-8501 email: jef.pat@maryland.gov

April 8 (9 am - 3:30 pm) - Ann Arundel County
Archaeology Society of Maryland (ASM) Spring Symposium
Seven speakers will cover topics - archeology and African American critical geography, the Powhatan Landscape, recent acquisitions of the Archaeological Conservancy, archeology in support of activism, using archaeology to find the role of children in the Colonial Chesapeake, background on Calverton for the 2017 ASM Field Session, and the Oakley Cabin.
For more information on talks - http://marylandarcheology.org/Misc/Symposium_2017_Program.pdf  $7 for general admission $5 for ASM members and students
Location: 100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21032
Sponsor: Archaeology Society of Maryland

April 13 (7 pm)
Landscape and the Imagined Past in Port Tobacco
Hear Esther Read talk about recent public excavations in the eighteenth-century village of Port Tobacco that are allowing us to explore the changing nature of the village landscape and to help preserve local history.
Location: La Plata Police Department,101 La Grange Ave, La Plata, MD
Contact: Carol Cowherd  ccasm2010@gmail.com
Sponsor: Charles County Archaeology Society of Maryland

April 15  (10:00 am - 3:00pm) - Calvert County
Village Day at JPPM
Come spend the day in the replica Indian village and try experimenting with making Native American pottery. Learn about processing clay from out of the ground all the way to putting the pottery into the fire.
Location: Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, 10515 Mackall Road, Saint Leonard, MD 20685
Contact: Nate Salzmanl phone: 410-586-8595 email: nathaniel.salzman@maryland.gov

April 21 (6 pm - 8 pm)
Mallows Bay Presentation (part of Discover Quest: WWI Commemoration Weekend)
Hear an engaging presentation about Mallows Bay by underwater archaeologist Don Shomette.  Also enjoy an art exhibit on Mallows Bay by Charles County Public School students and informative panels on World War I history in Charles County
Location: College of Southern Maryland, BI Building - 113 & 114, 8730 Mitchell Rd, La Plata, MD
Sponsor: Charles County Tourism

April 22 (9 am - 4 pm)
A Day at Mallows Bay (part of Discover Quest: WWI Commemoration Weekend)
Come for a day of interactive learning with activities and displays including measuring and recording a mock shipwreck, learning to tie basic knots, learning how different watersheds process rainwater with active models, digging for fossils, and checking out some Late Woodland artifacts. 
The Southern Maryland Audubon Society will have guided walks at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.  Also Atlantic Kayak will provide guided kayak tours including all equipment for $40 per person
Location: Mallows Bay Park,1440 Wilson Landing Rd, Nanjemoy, MD
Sponsor: Charles County Tourism

April 22  (11:00 am – 4:00pm) - Calvert County
Village Day at JPPM
Bring the entire family for a day of interactive learning and fun, including a simulated archaeological dig for kids, archaeological site and lab tours, exhibits, games and cool crafts.
Location: Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, 10515 Mackall Road, Saint Leonard, MD 20685
Contact: Sherwana Knox phone: 410-586-8501 email: sherwana.knox@maryland.gov 

April 23 (10 am - 4 pm) (part of Discover Quest: WWI Commemoration Weekend)
Public Archaeology and Open House at Rich Hill
Participate in an archaeological excavation with professional and avocational archaeologists.  See historical displays, a Civil War encampment, historical re-enactors, and an eighteenth century house.
Location: Rich Hill Farm Rd, Bel Alton, MD 20611
Sponsor: Charles County Tourism and Charles County Historical Society 
 
April 29  (1:00 pm – 4:00pm) - St Mary's County
Open House at the new Historic St. Mary's City Archaeology Laboratories
Join the archaeologists of Historic St. Mary's City in a celebration of the new curation and analysis facility located on the campus of St. Mary's College of Maryland.  Tours will be conducted 1-4pm.
At 3pm join the Research and Collections staff in the Blackistone Room for illustrated presentations on archaeology undertaken at Historic St. Mary’s City. 
At 4pm in the Reconstructed Brick State House there will be a reception with light refreshments. Please RSVP to Silas Hurry if you plan to attend the reception.
Location: Anne Arundel South, St Mary's College, 16855 Point Lookout Rd, St Marys City, MD
Contact: Silas Hurry (Silash@digshistory.org)

 

Volunteering on Native American Site Secomocomoco?

During the week of March 27 at least two CCASM member took advantage of the opportunity to work on an important Native American site on Lower Brambly (St. Mary's County).  It is possible this large shell midden is the site of Secomocomoco, a Native American town or settlement.  Secomocomoco was also one of the Native American towns mapped by John Smith in 1608.
 
Last year shovel test pits were dug to augment information gathered about the site by Dr. King and her students in 2015.  Earlier this year a geophysical survey was conducted by Tim Horsley to identify what features might by there.  Evidence of an earlier house and barn were clearly seen.  But other possible "features" were also identified.  This week 5'x5' test units were placed over several of these locations to compare what could be seen in the ground with the geophysical readings.  

Looking at features in bottom of unit

Recovering pottery

While CCASM members were there, some of the things recovered were lots of shell, fire-cracked rocks, a bipolar core, a cortex flake, Late Woodland pottery, Middle Woodland pottery where the shell had not been leached out of the temper, and mammal bones.  But the main purpose of the excavations were to look for features. One of the units had a small plow scar, multiple post molds, additional larger possible post molds, and a round feature that cut into a larger oblong feature. 

It's always good to be in the field and to get a feel for the land.

Scott Strickland is the Field Supervisor, and Dr. Julie King is in charge of the project. 
 
Note that one of the sponsors of the project is the Archeological Society of Maryland (ASM), and CCASM is a chapter of ASM. 

Waldorf West Library - "Archaeologists Dig for Clues"

March 25 CCASM took our interactive children's program called "Archaeologists Dig for Clues" to the Waldorf West Library.  Eleven children ranging in ages from 6 to 11 participated.  The library book associated with the program was Kate Duke's book "Archaeologists Dig for Clues".   First, the librarian used sections of the book to interact with the children.  Then the children looked at the clues from several different boxes of "artifacts" and tried to determine what type of building would be associated with them.  But archaeologists do more than just recover objects, they also need to describe them.  So each child also choose artifacts to draw, measure, and describe. 

Sami led the activity with Doug, Ann, Barbara, Debbie, Peggy, the librarian Catherine along with Sami working with the children.   Always interesting.  Always fun.

Thanks to Ann for providing the pictures.