Phase II and Phase III Archaeological Database and Inventory
18BA106 Painters Camp
Diagnostic Artifact Data
Features
Summary
The Painters Camp Site (18BA106) is a prehistoric base camp site with occupations from the Early Archaic period through the Late Woodland period. The major period of occupation at the site appears to have been the Potomac Creek Phase of the Late Woodland period. The site is situated on a wide, level terrace of the Gwynns Falls floodplain, near Reisterstown in Baltimore County. To the west of the site is a steep slope and Gwynns Falls, a second order tributary of the Patapsco River, sits to the east. The site is bisected by a local road. In the prehistoric past the site was covered in dense woods. Agricultural use of the site has resulted in some downslope movement of soil, while modern development in the watershed has resulted in recent flooding which has capped the lower ends of the site under several feet of flood deposits. The site measures approximately 140 meters in length by 80 meters in width. Soils at the site are Baltimore silt loam, 0-3% slope.
Site 18BA106 is located about 150 meters north of Site 18BA112, also an Archaic and Woodland period base camp. The two sites are separated by a low-lying swampy area that contains a light scattering of cultural material. Sites 18BA104 and 18BA105, both interpreted to be Late Woodland period base camps, were located in the immediate vicinity of 18BA106 during the initial 1973 survey. However, during the 1974 random surface collection (discussed below), the archeologist determined that Sites 18BA104, 105, and 106, which were all located in the northern half of a cultivated field along the aforementioend local road, were all part of a larger single site, which came to be referred to collectively as 18BA106.
Between 1973 and 1975 three phases of investigation at the Painters Camp Site were undertaken by personnel from the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS). The 1973 and 1974 fieldwork seasons were reported separately but the 1975 season was combined with the previous 2 seasons in a final report on the 3 year project (an MA thesis was also produced as a result of this research, see MHT #BA 10, but was not consulted for this synopsis). The Northwest Transportation Corridor project involved construction of a highway from Gwynns Falls where it entered the transportation corridor at Owings Mills until it emerged upon the relatively flat uplands which continue beyond the project area to MD Route 30 at Reisterstown. The proposed impact to the site was the construction of a parking lot for the rapid rail transit line associated with the Northwest Expressway. In all, 15 alternatives were proposed for the highway alignment. A total of 12 prehistoric and 7 historic archeological sites were located during the 3 year survey. In addition to the fieldwork, the assemblages of two local collectors were examined in detail. It appears that in some cases artifacts could be provenienced to a particular site.
During July and August of 1973 reconnaissance of the Northwest Transportation Corridor was carried out. The purpose of the survey was to locate as many historic and prehistoric sites as possible within the accessible portions of the direct impact zone. In wooded areas, pasture, or grass-covered fields, exposed surfaces were examined for artifacts. Test excavations measuring 0.9144 m² (3 ft²) were excavated in well-drained areas adjacent to open water resources and all covered areas that produced surface artifacts (test units were dug at 18BA106 in 1975). It was during the 1973 reconnaissance that Site 18BA106 was identified. The survey consisted of uncontrolled surface collection. Proposed alignments Alternates 3 and 4 were found to directly affect the site, along with Alternate 2B which would affect only the southern edge of the site. Additional fieldwork was recommended at that time.
The initial survey was followed with an analysis of the data and writing of the preliminary report. The second phase of field research involved controlled surface collection of the areas that had previously been in crop in 1973. Due to delays in starting the project, and after the fields had again been cultivated and planted, a controlled surface survey was not possible until the spring plowing. However, archeologists from MGS with help from several Boy Scouts conducted a random collection of the field. Following the 1974 cultivation the site was revisited after every rain and in June when the soils were washed off of a sufficient quantity of artifacts, the entire surface area of the field was surveyed.
During the 1974 controlled survey, investigators flagging all observed artifacts which were then mapped. All artifacts were left in place. A resurvey of the site by the principal investigator revealed that debitage was overlooked during the controlled survey. Quartz and serpentine occur naturally in the location; serpentine was not collected and the marking of quartz cultural artifacts may have been biased. Similarly, fire-cracked rock may have been overlooked. An in-field evaluation of the quartz debitage was undertaken. Finally, the field was resurveyed two more times by various team members in order to avoid bias. After the field was resurvey for the third and final time, the artifacts were plotted and collected. Based on the results of the survey, the interim 1974 report recommended excavation of both Sites 18BA106 and 18BA112 to determine the relationship between the distribution of surface artifacts at the sites with the distribution of cultural features at the sites.
Test excavations and more controlled surface collections were conducted at the site in 1975. Surface collection at 18BA106 followed the 1974 technique and approximately 40 volunteers and 5 archeology students conducted the survey. Only the area cultivated in the fall of 1974 (the east side of the site) was subjected to controlled surface collecting in 1975. The uncultivated, western section of the site was in 80% cover and was randomly collected. Cultural items were found in the wash and at the base of the slopes. A baseline was established that ran the entire length of the cultivated field in a southerly direction and bisected both Sites 18BA106 and 18BA112. Nineteen 2 m² test units were excavated at Site 18BA106. In squares that were spatially isolated, the plowzone from the southwest square-meter was screened through 0.635 cm mesh. For the contiguous squares, only two southwest square-meters of the plowzone were screened. In 7 of the excavated squares, all of the material not passing through the screen was saved and subsequently wet-screened. Soil from the remaining 12 test units was screened and all observed artifacts were retained. Differences in the collection methods suggested there was a 40-50% loss of artifacts as a result of the dry screening. This was likely in large part due to the difficulties of screening clayey and moist soil. One feature and 8 possible post molds were identified at the Painters Camp site (no subsurface features were uncovered at Site 18BA112). The distribution of post molds did not suggest the location of a structure. The feature was charcoal-filled and measured about 41 x 45 cm across and was approximately 42 cm deep. No artifacts were recovered from the feature fill.
Distribution of the materials collected from the site suggested that artifacts made from chalcedony, brown jasper, point of Rocks jasper, and Flint Run jasper clustered in the south-central section of the site. Quartz tools were densely clustered in the northeastern and northwestern sections of the site. Rhyolite artifacts were observed to cluster in the north-central and southeastern sections of the site. The Late Woodland period ceramic sherds clustered in 3 areas of the site with the majority in the central section, followed by the southeastern section and the northeastern section of the site.
Based on the analysis of the materials, it was suggested that the earliest material recovered from the site could date to the Early Archaic period. This is primarily based on the identification of a single Kirk-like brown jasper point that was observed in the assemblage of a collector. A bifurcate point, an Early Archaic diagnostic, was collected from the west side of the site at the head of the wash. The Middle Archaic period was represented at the site by Savannah River points found on the north and west sides of the site. Both of these types were observed in the assemblages of local collectors, and rhyolite points predominated. A possible Otter Creek-like point was also collected from the surface of the site. Combined with the rest of the assemblage, consisting mainly of debitage, it was suggested that the site served as a resource acquisition camp. In the south central portion of the site, a cluster of rhyolite debitage indicated that biface production and maintenance, cutting and possibly scraping activities were conducted. The Late Archaic period at the site was represented by the presence of a Brewerton ear-notched point, a Piscataway point, and 5 Dry Brook/Orient Fishtail points (which continued to be produced into the Woodland period). A Lackawaxen point was found on the west side of the site. A possible steatite bannerstone or pipe fragment was also recorded with the Late Archaic assemblage.
Materials were recovered that also indicated site use during the Woodland period. The Early Woodland period was represented by a Dry Brook/Orient Fishtail point. The same point type was identified in the assemblages of local collectors. A quartz flake industry was also thought to characterize this period at the site. Characteristic pottery types, such as Accokeek ware, were also recovered from the site. In fact, all but one ceramic sherd (an Accokeek ware sherd that was recovered from neighboring site 18BA112) came from Site 18BA106. The only artifacts recovered that represented the Middle Woodland period were 2 side-notched points dating to the Mockley phase (possibly referring to a Selby Bay point). A single corner notched projectile point thought to be diagnostic of the period was the only lithic example of a Late Woodland period object noted in the site assemblage. A triangular projectile point, also thought to be diagnostic of the period, was collected from the site. A second example was also identified in one of the collector’s assemblages. Those points were reportedly recovered from the surface of Site 18BA106. Several ceramic sherds dated to the Late Woodland period were also recovered from the site between 1973 and 1975. Forty ceramic sherds assigned to the Townsend complex were recovered from the site. These were estimated to represent a maximum of 24 vessels. Three body sherds were dated to the Little Round Bay phase and 2 sherds were dated to the Sullivan Cove phase. In addition to the Townsend sherds, 109 sherds were identified as Potomac Creek ware. Twenty-five Moyoane sherds were found at the site. Sherds representing 1 vessel were found scattered over a 20x15 meter area in the northern part of the site. The spatial clustering of the Late Woodland period artifacts indicated to the investigator that there were 2 butchering areas in the northeastern section of the site.
The artifact analysis was presented as a diachronic synthesis within the final site report. Also included in the analysis (but not the artifact count) were artifacts loaned to the investigators by two local collectors. The 1975 data was not discussed separately from the 1973 and 1974 material but rather all the artifacts were combined for one site total in a summary table. All artifacts except for 2 were recovered from the surface of the site. A total of 834 prehistoric artifacts were retained from the site during the 3 years of testing. There were 541 flakes, chips and chunks (273 quartz, 1 quartzite, 258 rhyolite, 3 brown flint, 1 gray flint, 3 jasper, 1 chalcedony, 1 unidentified material) and 7 cores (4 quartz, 1 brown flint, 2 chalcedony) in the lithic assemblage. In all, 97 bifacial and unifacial tools were found. Eight flakes had been retouched and/or utilized. Characteristic scraper tools (n=25) were recovered from the site (15 quartz, 7 rhyolite, 2 brown flint, and 1 chalcedony). Among the bifaces several diagnostic points were identified. These were identified in the report as 1bifurcate, 1 Otter Creek (possibly argillite), 1 rhyolite Lackawaxen, 2 rhyolite Savannah River, 1 possible Late Woodland quartz triangular point, 1 quartz and 2 rhyolite Brewerton ear-notched, 1 Piscataway of unidentified material, and 3 quartz and 3 quartzite Dry Brook/Orient Fishtail points. However, as part of the Phase II testing conducted at the site in 1981 (see below) the lithic artifacts were re-examined and the investigator identified 1 Early Archaic bifurcate, 1 Selby Bay, 4 Madison/Potomac, 2 Lackawaxen, 2 Piscataway, 1 Levanna, 1 Brewerton, and 3 Vernon points. These types were listed in the table above.
Groundstone objects collected as a result of the 3 year survey included an unfinished atlatl weight, a bannerstone, and a steatite pipe or winged bannerstone. Other lithics found at the site included 1 quartzite grinding stone, 1 quartzite hammerstone, and 5 choppers. A total of 179 ceramic sherds were identified at the site. There were 2 Accokeek cord-marked sherds, 40 Townsend body sherds and 3 rims, 109 identified Potomac Creek sherds, and 25 Moyaone sherds. Two historic artifacts were also collected in either 1973 or 1974 but were not discussed in any detail.
A distributional assessment of the artifacts collected during the Phase I surveys suggested there were 10 activity areas at the site on the basis of spatial clustering and cultural type association. One of the activity areas was hypothesized to be a butchering station, 5 of the activity areas were hypothesized to be residential zones, and the remaining 4 activity areas were unidentified as to activity. The size measured about 170 x 100 meters in size with a core area of roughly 100 x 70 meters. Based on the archeological testing conducted at Site 18BA106 between 1973 and 1975, additional controlled surface collection was not recommended. However, greater exposure and deeper testing was suggested for all alternates except Alternates 3 and 4 in order to identify any subsurface features and to test for buried components.
In 1980, staff from the Baltimore County Office of Planning and Zoning (OPZ) visited the site. At that time it was noted that a sewer line had been installed at the lower/southern edge of the site.
Then in September 1981, staff from MGS conducted Phase II archeological investigations at the site prior to construction of the Northwest Expressway. The Phase II fieldwork consisted of cutting 20 backhoe trenches across the site. Heavy machinery was used to strip the plowzone in order to reveal the presence of any in situ features. The trenches were placed in areas of high artifact density and where there were surface indications of colluvial-alluvial interfaces. While attempting to re-establish the grid that had been used during the 1975 testing, it was discovered that the earlier bench marks had been destroyed by the construction of a sewer line noted during the 1980 OPZ site visit. Based on the previous investigators recollections and on field notes, a comparable grid was established at the site and tied into the state grid system.
Four of the previous (1975) test units were located in the backhoe excavations from which it was determined that the new grid was 1 meter north and about 20 cm east of the earlier grid. After the plowzone was mechanically removed, each trench was hand scraped and troweled. In addition to the plowzone stripping, 2 backhoe trenches were dug, measuring 1-2 meters deep. A total of 197 soil anomalies were mapped and cross-sectioned. The majority of the anomalies were discovered to be root molds. Two of the anomalies were interpreted to be post molds (Features 1 and 2). The only artifact recovered from the features was a single quartz flake from Feature 1. They were spatially unrelated and no additional features were identified in the immediate area surrounding the molds.
A total of 140 prehistoric artifacts were collected from Site 18BA106 during the Phase II investigations. In all, 109 lithic artifacts were retained. This included 86 flakes (72 quartz and 14 rhyolite) and 3 cores (1 jasper and 2 quartz). The 20 tools included 9 retouched and/or utilized flakes (5 quartz and 4 rhyolite), 1 rhyolite Brewerton Corner-notched point reworked as a drill, 1 rhyolite base of a triangular point (possibly a Madison/Potomac), 5 scrapers, and 4 knives or flakes with a bifacially worked cutting edge (1 chert, 4 quartz, 4 rhyolite). The majority of the debitage was made from quartz whereas the majority of the tools were made form rhyolite. The lack of evidence for primary reduction (such as cortical flakes and cores) suggested that mainly secondary reduction and retouching of quartz occurred at the site. There were 31 ceramic sherds in the Phase II assemblage including 1 Accokeek, 4 Townsend, 23 Potomac Creek body sherds and 2 rim sherds, and the remaining sherd was a tiny fragment with unidentifiable temper and surface treatment.
Utilizing the data from the 1974 and 1975 controlled surface collections with the data from the 1981 testing, an assessment of the activity areas identified at the site was undertaken. A t-test was performed on each artifact class. Results showed that 9 of the 14 artifact classes clustered significantly. Several significant correlations were obtained: 1) Potomac Creek pottery correlated with Townsend pottery, cutting, scraping, and chopping tools, feldspar rhyolite and plain rhyolite; 2) Townsend pottery correlated with Potomac Creek pottery, black rhyolite and plain rhyolite; 3) Cutting tools correlated with scraping and chopping tools, Potomac Creek pottery and vein quartz; 4) Scraping tools correlated with cutting and chopping tools, Potomac Creek pottery, feldspar rhyolite and vein quartz; 5) Chopping tools correlated with cutting and scraping tools, Potomac Creek pottery and vein quartz; 6) Black rhyolite corresponded with Townsend pottery and plain rhyolite; 7) Vein quartz correlated with cutting, chopping, and scraping tools and opaque quartz; 8) Plain rhyolite correlated with Potomac Creek pottery, Townsend pottery and black rhyolite; 9) Feldspar correlated with scraping tools and Potomac Creek pottery; and 10) Opaque quartz correlated with vein quartz. These correlates indicated a strong cluster of Potomac Creek pottery, and cutting, scraping, and chopping tools. What the investigator inferred from the matrix of correlation coefficients was that there is a “smearing” of artifact categories across the site so that many groups are co-occurring with one another. This suggested an overlapping of activities at the site. The investigator also determined that the lack of negative correlations, which further indicated the “smearing” of artifacts across the site. Therefore, no discrete activity areas, as proposed during the Phase I testing, could be identified at Site 18BA106 as a result of the Phase II archeological testing.
The Painters Camp Site (18BA106) represents over 8,000 years of periodic occupation of the same space. It is a prehistoric base camp site with occupations from the Early Archaic to the late Woodland periods. Initially, the Deputy State Historic preservation Officer determined that the site was eligible for listing to the National Register of Historic Places. The determination was based on the faulty premises that site 18BA106 was the only site in the Gwynn Falls valley to produce Woodland ceramics and that activity areas were in evidence, that it contained a number of significant components related to the Little Round Bay, Sullivan Cove and Potomac Creek Phases, and that it had the potential for in situ features and possible buried deposits. However, the Phase II study revealed that this was not the only site in the valley to produce Woodland ceramics and that activity areas could not be discerned. As a result of pedological analysis and the identification of only 2 possible features following stripping of nearly 840 m² in the center of the site, the potential for buried deposits was determined to be negligible. Therefore, the research potential of the site was determined to be less than anticipated. As a consequence, no any additional work was recommended at the Painters Camp Site. Currently, nearly the entire site is covered by the rapid rail transit parking lot located on the east side of the highway.
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