Phase II and Phase III Archaeological Database and Inventory
18CH385 Area B-1, Site D
Diagnostic Artifact Data
Features
Summary
Site 18CH385 (Area B-1, Site D) is a Late Archaic and Late Woodland short-term camp site located northeast of the town of Indian Head in Charles County, Maryland. It occupies the eastern edge of a ridge, along a small drainage channel that separates in from Site 18CH383 (see synopsis report) to the southeast. Site 18CH385 measures approximately 120 X 170 m. Soils at the site are Beltsville silt loams.
The site was originally investigated as part of a large Phase I survey in 1994, prior to the onset of site preparation and construction for the Chapman’s Landing development. The development included the construction of extensive office and retail space, town houses, single-family houses, and a 200-acre golf course. In addition, roads, sewer lines, utilities, and other improvements would lead to significant impacts in the project area. Numerous archeological sites (both prehistoric and historic) were identified as a part of the 1994 study.
During the Phase I survey, a series of shovel test pits (STPs) were excavated across the site at 20 meter intervals. These yielded 19 lithic flakes. Another 20 flakes and 1 fragment of block/shatter were recovered from additional supplemental shovel tests excavated at 10 meter intervals around the initial positive STPs. In all, 103 STPs were excavated. Lithic flakes were recovered from all 3 of the encountered soil strata, up to a depth of 40 cmbs. With the exception of one chert flake, all of the lithic material recovered during Phase I at 18CH385 consisted of quartz and quartzite. One of the flakes showed evidence of having been used as a tool, possibly a scraper, after its manufacture. The stratigraphic context of the majority of artifacts recovered during the Phase I survey suggested the potential for resource integrity. Thus, the site was recommended for Phase II testing.
Researchers returned to the site later that year to conduct the Phase II work. Phase II evaluation included systematic shovel testing of the site in order to more carefully define the horizontal and vertical distribution of different quantities and categories of artifacts. Shovel tests measured approximately 30 cm in diameter, and were excavated to a minimum depth of 40 cmbs or 10 cm into sterile subsoil, except where ground conditions prevented complete excavation. These were placed at 10 meter intervals. Soils were removed by natural strata and screened through hardware cloth. A total of 105 shovel tests were excavated during the Phase II study. Sixty-one of the STPs contained prehistoric artifacts and 2 yielded prehistoric and historic artifacts. The historic artifacts were two sherds of Buckley earthenware and represent the entire historic assemblage from the site.
Based upon the numerical concentrations and types of artifacts recovered during the Phase II intensive shovel testing, as well as data gathered from the Phase I investigation, formal test units were placed throughout the site. A total of 7 test units were excavated, generally in the areas of densest artifact concentration. The 7 test units measured 1 X 1 m, and were excavated to a minimum of 10 cm into sterile subsoil or to a minimum of 5 cm into fragipan in non-agrading soil deposits. Soils were removed by arbitrary 10 cm levels following natural stratigraphy and were screened through hardware cloth.
A total of 113 prehistoric artifacts were recovered from the Phase II shovel tests. All 7 formal test units yielded artifacts, producing an additional 311 prehistoric artifacts. Two additional artifacts were recovered from the surface. A total of 425 of the artifacts were of lithic materials and one ceramic sherd was recovered. The entire Phase II assemblage is composed of 1 Clagett or Otter Creek/Hemphill point, 2 non-diagnostic bifaces, 10 cores or core fragments, 10 utilized/retouched flakes, 374 unmodified flakes, 21 pieces of block/shatter, 4 pieces of fire-cracked rock, 2 quartzite hammerstones, and 1 sherd of Townsend ware. No cultural features were encountered.
Evidence of logging is clear at the site, and some erosion of the surface layer may have occurred, particularly in portions with greater than 2% slopes. The shallowness of the fragipan soils indicate the presence of soil deflation. Some downward migration of the profile also is present. Aeolian deposition may have provided the more recent, thin A1 horizon. No clear evidence of plowing was detected at the site. Soil disturbance may be confined to bioturbation, particularly the activity of numerous roots in the A and upper portion of the B horizons. The clustering of the prehistoric artifacts at 3 to 30 cmbs, mainly within the A2 horizon, suggests a degree of vertical integrity. However, stratigraphic overlap of the two temporally divergent diagnostic artifacts, the aforementioned point and the Townsend sherd, suggests that deflation may have compressed distinct components. If this is the case, it is unlikely that the artifact assemblage can be divided into its appropriate temporal settings.
There is evidence for meaningful activity distinctions within the horizontal distribution of artifact types and materials. The eastern portion of the site featured more intense prehistoric activity, and longer term secondary reduction, while brief earlier stage reduction was more prevalent in the western and central portions of the site. It seems likely that the area of Test Units 2 and 5 (at the north end of the site) constitutes a discrete activity locus with a greater emphasis on later stage reduction, final manufacturing, and tool maintenance than elsewhere at the site. At Test Unit 2 in particular, the unusually high quantities of quartzite may reflect a single episode or a special preference in material over time by one individual or one group. However, despite horizontal integrity, the vertical mixing of occupational phases has rendered impossible any meaningful trace of temporal distinction within activity areas. The historic component consists of an extremely limited kitchen debris scatter from the 18th century. The integrity of this deposit is difficult to characterize because of its sparsity.
In the western portion of site 18CH385, the evidence for activity is so unsubstantial that research questions are not likely to be answered. In the more substantial eastern portion of the site, temporal relationships have been blurred by mixing of occupations. Spatial relationships can be identified but without chronological control are unlikely to furnish additional significant information. Therefore, the prehistoric component lacks sufficient integrity to address substantive research questions and should not be considered a significant resource.
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