Thomas Stone and Potluck Supper

Amy Muraca and David Lassman

CCASM's first Pot Luck Supper was held at Thomas Stone National Historic Site on Saturday, May 13, 2017.  There was more than enough food, and it was fun to just get together and share.

Also we learned more about this historic site.  First, Amy Muraca, the Resource Manager for Thomas Stone NHS and George Washington Birthplace National Monument, talked about archaeology relating to Thomas Stone and told us about proposals for future archaeology projects at the site.  Since Amy's background was in historical archaeology, we asked her a number of questions.

Next Park Ranger David Lassman related some more about this site, but spent most of his time talking about a number of other National Park sites along the George Washington Parkway.  There was so much information imparted. 

Since this was the May meeting, there was a brief CCASM meeting with the various officers giving reports on what had happened during the past year.

Haverdeventure

After the meeting David took several of us on a tour inside Haverdeventure, Thomas Stone's plantation home.

All in all we had a really nice time and would like to thank David for helping us set up our event at Thomas Stone.


Attendance: 13

Public Archaeology at Rich Hill and Discover Quest

Sunday April 23 turned out to be a great day for the Open House at the Rich Hill Historic Site and for the associated public archaeology.  This event was part of Charles County's Discover Quest.

The public archaeology involved excavating an area identified by ground penetrating radar and believed to be a kitchen midden.  That appears to be the case. The top level contained oyster shells, animal bones, coal, nails, and bricks with some glass and later ceramics.  The third level was almost all oyster shells - lots of whole oyster shells.  Among the artifacts recovered from the fourth level were American stoneware and a large rusted flat iron object but essentially no oyster shells.  Esther Read was the archaeologist in charge.  CCASM members volunteering at the excavation as well as interacting with the public included Jim, Steve, Jeanne-Marie, Evelyn, and Carol.

Screening, Contemplating

Working and Talking with Visitors

At the Open House there were a large number of panels relating different aspects of Rich Hill's history, a virtual tour of the second floor of the house, costumed re-enactors, a Civil War encampment, and historical organization displays.  CCASM had a small unstaffed table with a sign indicating people should come visit us at the excavation.

CCASM Table

Mallows Bay and Discover Quest

On Saturday April 22 CCASM had a table at the Charles County Tourism's Discover Quest at Mallows Bay Park.  CCASM had a display showing the impact of tidal waters on Charles County's shorelines.  This tied in with the theme for Maryland's Archeology Month: "At the Water's Edge - Our Past on the Brink."  But most people stopped by to hear about how to identify some common but often overlooked Native American artifacts.

The rain came around noon, and it was decided that everyone should start packing up around 1:30.  But for those who braved the weather, there were all sort of things to see.  In addition to the CCASM table, there were

• Archaeologists from Maryland Historical Trust demonstrating basic and useful knots that can be helpful both on and off the water.
• The Institute of Maritime History created a mock shipwreck on the grass and invited people to measure and record the artifacts found in the shipwreck. 
• The Mattawoman Watershed Society had active models to show how different watersheds process rainwater.
• The Natural History Society of Maryland had all sorts of fossils including many that can be found locally from The Natural History Society of Maryland.  
• The Southern Maryland Audubon Society had a display as well as conducting a bird walk in the morning. 
• The National Park Service's Junior Ranger Van made its inaugural appearance.
• And of course, Charles County Tourism was there.

Thanks to CCASM members Elsie, Evelyn, and Carol for staffing the table.  (Also thanks to Peggy for offering to help in the afternoon even though everything had been packed up when she arrived.)
Also thanks to David Lassman for 'Thomas Stone" Facebook photo. 

Landscape and the Imagined Past

Esther Doyle Read

At the April 13 CCASM meeting Esther Doyle Read recounted how the Port Tobacco landscape she first saw in the 1980's is a stark contrast to its historic counterpart.  Even the current landscape does not reflect the historic Port Tobacco.   Esther continued with how recent archaeology as well as efforts by Charles County are trying to provide visitors to Port Tobacco more clues to this historic counterpart. 

In addition to describing the public archeology that has been done at Stagg Hall in Port Tobacco, Esther also described what has been done at Rich Hill since the last public archaeology done there in 2015.  The archaeology is beginning to tell us how the different occupants of the property changed the landscape of Rich Hill.

And then Esther indicated the next public archaeology days - March 23 at Rich Hill and May 6 at Stagg Hall.   Esther will be the archaeologist in charge of the public archaeology.  (Check out future blogs for more information.)

Esther Doyle Read is a Professor at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, as well as the Charles County Contract Archaeologist.

Intent on hearing Esther's Talk

In addition to the talk, Mike Mazzeo gave us the first look at the panel "Port Tobacco on the World Stage"  that  has images of early artifacts recovered in Port Tobacco but that were made throughout the world.  The panel is to be installed at Stagg Hall and was funded by CCASM member Elsie Pyck in memory of her late husband George.  Sorry, no picture, but be sure to stop by Stagg Hall to see the panel as well as all the changes that have been made there.

Attendance: 13

Archaeology Month Display at LaPlata Library

For April (Maryland Archaeology Month) CCASM volunteered to do one of the display cases in the entrance area of the LaPlata Library, 2 Garrett Ave., LaPlata, MD.

This display highlighted Charles County and this year's theme for Maryland Archaeology Month "At the Water's Edge, Out Past on the Brink".  Here is what the finished display looks like -

Finished Display

The CCASM Outreach Committee decided what to display, and Elsie, Barbara, and Carol put it together.

Covering bottom of display

Putting up text

On April 13 Carol and Elsie staffed the CCASM table at the LaPlata Library and answered questions relating to Archaeology.