Phase II and Phase III Archaeological Database and Inventory
18BA531 AVW/ Area 2/Site 8
Diagnostic Artifact Data
Features
Summary
Site 18BA531, also known as AVW/ Area 2/Site 8, is mid 19th – early 20th century artifact concentration located near the Middle River area of Baltimore County. The site is situated on a low terrace just east of Windlass Run. At least two unnamed tributaries of Saltpeter Creek are to the east of the site. At the time of the site’s discovery in 2005, it was composed of overgrown agricultural fields. The dominant vegetative setting of surrounding landscape contains several hardwood and coniferous species, including red oak and other oak varieties, yellow poplar, sycamore, red maple, sweetgum, black cherry, beech, sassafras, Virginia pine, loblolly, American holly, and cedar. Soils at the site are primarily Sassafras sandy loams and Galestown loamy sands.
Archival research into the ownership of Site 18BA531 failed to reveal any clear chain-of-title for the individuals connected to the site. The only historic document to provide any indication of the ownership of the area is an 1877 Atlas of Baltimore County. The map shows a house owned by John Ritter in the approximate location of the site.
The site was first identified in 2005 during the course of a Phase I archeological survey of the site and surrounding areas. The work was carried out on a 1,000 acre property (which included the site) slated for development of a new business campus. Construction of the business campus was contingent upon receipt of a wetlands permit through the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland Department of the Environment. Thus, the survey was required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended).
The site was identified based on the presence of 32 historic artifacts found in 13 of 14 shovel test pits excavated during Phase I work. The STPs were placed at 15.24 X 15.24 m (50 X 50 ft) intervals and were excavated according to natural stratigraphy. All soils were screened through hardware cloth. Artifacts recovered from the site were located within Strata I and II. Several pieces of modern material (plastic and terra cotta) were also identified but were isolated to Stratum I (plowzone). Diagnostic artifacts included 1 undecorated pearlware sherd, 1 white salt-glazed stoneware sherd, 1 other salt-glazed stoneware sherd, 9 whiteware sherds (1 hand-painted, 1 sponged), and 2 olive bottle glass fragments.
No intact cultural features were found in the site area. After examining the data, the site was classified as a late 18th or early 19th-20th century artifact concentration. The site was recommended for Phase II testing, which was carried out immediately.
Phase II work in 2005 at 18BA531 made use of the grid system created during the prior Phase I survey. The system was further expanded to conduct more precise testing. The Phase II grid was composed of shovel tests spaced apart at 15.24 m, 7.62 m, and 3.81 m (50, 25, and 12.5 ft) intervals. All shovel test locations were excavated manually, using spade shovels and trowels. The STPs were also excavated stratigraphically in order to maintain vertical control over the artifacts recovered and soils were screened through hardware cloth. A soil profile was prepared for each shovel test location excavated. Soils were described by texture and color and data was recorded on standardized forms. A total of 95 shovel tests were excavated within the site area.
The material recovery resulting from the STP work was plotted on a field map in order to display the distribution of artifacts. The site was estimated to have a dimension of 61 m (200 ft) north-south and 84 m (275 ft) east-west. The west central portion of the site had the greatest concentration of artifacts. Based on the nature and density of artifacts recovered, three 91 X 91 cm (3 X 3 ft) test units were excavated. Two of these units were excavated in the west central part of the site, while the final test unit was placed in the center of the site where a secondary concentration of artifacts was encountered. Test units were excavated manually, using flat shovels and trowels. These units were also excavated stratigraphically in order to maintain control over the vertical provenience of artifacts recovered. Selected strata in excess of 7.62 cm (3 in) were further excavated by arbitrary levels. All excavated, non-feature soils were dry-screened in the field using hardware mesh. A standardized form was also used to record soil characteristics, stratum depths, and recovered materials. A scaled profile of one wall was drawn for each unit and the profile was also recorded using black and white photography.
Forty-one shovel tests and all three test units produced artifacts. A total of 466 artifacts were recovered By quantity, the recovery consisted of the following: 1 prehistoric artifact (a fragment of quartz debitage), 413 historic artifacts, and 52 modern items. The 52 modern materials are included in the tally above as “Miscellaneous objects”.
The historic collection was composed of several functional artifact groups. The assemblage consisted of 1 activity item (hardware), 150 architectural artifacts (81 window glass fragments, 38 pieces of brick and mortar, 1 machine cut nail, and 30 other nails), 14 clothing items (shoe parts), 140 kitchen-related artifacts (106 ceramic sherds, 32 pieces of container glass, and 2 pieces of calcined animal bone), and 101 miscellaneous objects (25 pieces of coal, 59 pieces of charcoal, slag, wood, and iron). The artifact recovery was confined to organic strata (plowzones) overlying subsoil. The ceramic sherd assemblage included 1 pearlware, 1 creamware, 21 whiteware, 26 redware, 4 yelloware, 1 Rockingham, 5 white salt-glazed stoneware, 7 miscellaneous stoneware, and 37 other ceramic sherds.
The Phase II data suggest a small, short-term domestic occupation at the site. The residence was likely present between 1820 and 1920. This view was supported by the recovery of American porcelain, yelloware, whiteware, Rockingham, opaque canning lid glass, manganese-tinted glass, and miscellaneous modern artifacts. Based on the quantity and nature of the earlier artifacts, the presumed residence was thought to have been occupied for only a short period. Presumably, the dwelling was of wood frame construction and supported a brick chimney. The lack of intact masonry features supported this view. The distribution of artifacts was unhelpful in pinpointing a potential residence location. Those occupying the site were likely farmers: members of the Ritter’s family.
The research potential of this site, however, was dramatically reduced by the lack of soils with good stratigraphic integrity and displaced artifact recovery. Apparently, the extensive history of agriculture in this area dramatically impacted the yards connected with this early residence, leaving the soil completely disturbed. Thus, conducting future excavations at Site 18BA531 was thought to provide little additional research value beyond that already obtained through the evaluation process.
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