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

Tabletop Excavation

Patricia Samford

At CCASM's December 12th meeting we did something different - investigated a "site" without getting our hands dirty.  Dr. Patricia Samford led us in an activity that she had developed using a pretend historic site.  We could only excavate half of the site, and we could only look at three of the archival documents.  Tricia guided us in using the same processes of reasoning and analysis that archaeologists use when excavating and researching real sites.  Then we used what we had found out to draw conclusions about the pretend site.  But unlike a real investigation, Patricia shared with us how close our conclusions were.

Dr. Samford is the Director of the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum.

The pretend site and archaeologists

Field Crew
You'll have to play to see what's under the black areas.

Researchers

Attendance: 11

Sense of Place

Rico Newman

At the November 13 CCASM meeting Rico Newman, a member of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe, talked about "Sense of Place", one of five parts of what could be used to describe the "World View" of Native Americans.  This World View was used to frame the discussion while documenting the oral history of the oldest Native Americans at the time.  Rico went on to mention various places associated with the Piscataway, the significance of the places, and the meaning of the names.  Many of these are located in federal, state, or county parks.  Rico is the director of the non-profit Maryland Indian Tourism Assoc., Inc.  He also talked about the efforts of the non-profit to create the Maryland Indian Heritage Trails in order to make people more aware of these locations and their significance to the Native American story.

Rico Newman is a former speaker for the Choptico Band of Indians and now serves as its Historic Preservation Officer.  He also recently accepted appointment to the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs.

Attendance: 20

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.