Phase II and Phase III Archaeological Database and Inventory
18PR657 Area G
Diagnostic Artifact Data
Features
Summary
Site 18PR657 (also known as Area G) is the archeological remains of a multicomponent lithic procurement camp near Bowie in Prince George’s County. Archeological deposits at the site date from the Early and Late Archaic, as well as the Early, Middle, and Late Woodland periods. The site is found in a transitional area surrounded by a low-lying, poorly-drained setting to the north, east, and south, elevated uplands to the southwest, and a gravel quarry to the west. Maryland Route 3 constitutes the western border of Site 18PR657, while a low-lying area and small unnamed creek forms the southern border of the site. The setting is heavily wooded with a mix of swamp maple, some beech and hickory, holly, and thick stands of thorny vines. Evidence of ground disturbance is present along MD 3 including several large push piles of gravely soils, deep ruts from vehicle tires, and indications of erosion channels from surface runoff. Extensive late 20th century roadside dumping of refuse is evident across the surface. Soils at the site include Woodstown sandy loams and gravel/borrow pits.
The site was first identified in 2004 during the course of a combined Phase I-II archeological survey for proposed improvements to MD Route 3. The Maryland State Highway Administration was proposing to upgrade the existing dual-lane highway from MD-32 to US-50 with new turn lanes, wider shoulders, pedestrian and bicycles facilities, the construction of several stormwater basins, and various utility upgrades. The investigation was performed in accordance with federal and state laws that protect cultural resources. These mandates include: Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 49 U.S.C § 470f – Protection of Historic and Cultural Resources – 36 CFR 800, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 – 42 U.S.C. §§ 4331(b)(4) and 4332, the Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974 – 16 U.S.C. § 469 et seq., and the Maryland Historical Trust Act of 1985, State Finance and Procurement Articles §§5A-325 and 5A-326 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
Phase I work in 2004 entailed the excavation of shovel test pits (STPs) at 20 m intervals throughout the highway corridor. Phase I work at 18PR657 consisted of the excavation of 44 STPs: initially 7 at 10 m intervals across the top of a low hill at the southern end of the area and 19 at 20 m intervals in the northern part of the site. One of the STPs in the northern portion of the site led to the identification of a concentration of prehistoric artifacts and prompted the excavation of an additional 18 STPs.
The Phase I survey recovered an assortment of historic and prehistoric refuse from the site. The historic assemblage (74 objects) consisted of glass and synthetic materials representative of modern roadside dumping and scattered debris. These materials are counted in the table above as “miscellaneous” finds. For prehistoric resources, a total of 353 artifacts, including debitage, a biface, and an unmodified quartzite pebble were recovered during the Phase I fieldwork. The entire prehistoric artifact collection, excluding the quartzite pebble, consisted of quartz. Primary, decertification, and bipolar flakes were recovered in the assemblage, suggesting that the collection represents a pebble/cobble reduction site utilizing local gravel resources. The 45 m long by 40 m wide are of prehistoric artifacts was designated Site 18PR657 and recommended for Phase II investigation.
Phase II work at the site was carried out in March and April of 2006 as part of the same highway improvement project. Phase II work began with a pedestrian survey to relocate the site and identify any evidence for the locations of Phase I STPs. Inspection of 18PR657 revealed 4 circular depressions near the northern edge of the site, representing the locations of backfilled Phase I STPs. However, much of the site exhibited modern refuse deposits associated with roadside dumping and ground disturbance that masked the locations of the remaining STPs. A baseline was established using a series of utility poles as reference points. Measurements were taken from the Phase I base map for the approximate distance of several Phase I STPs located on this baseline and their approximate locations were re-plotted in the field. From these re-plotted STPs, the Phase I grid was re-established.
A series of forty shovel tests were excavated at 10 and 20 m intervals across the untested eastern and southern portions of the highway project APE, outside the limits of 18PR657 as defined during Phase I. These additional STPs were excavated to further define the site limits, identify any discrete activity areas, and provide a better understanding of the geological and pedological composition of the landform. In addition to the STPs, ten 1 X 1 m test units were excavated within 18PR657.
STPs were generally 50 cm in diameter and were excavated according to identifiable horizons. All STPs were excavated 15 cm or deeper into culturally sterile Pleistocene deposits. In the 1 X 1 m test units, excavations were conducted at 10 cm levels within each respective soil horizon. All soils were screened through hardware mesh in order to ensure uniform recovery of artifacts regardless of age, cultural affiliation, or soil stratum. Each soil stratum was excavated and screened separately. Artifacts were collected and provenienced by stratigraphic layer.
Soil profile information, including measurements, soil texture, and color, was recorded on standardized forms. The location of all test excavations were recorded on scaled base maps. Cultural features and land modifications were also plotted on base maps, as were potential culturally influenced vegetation (trees, shrubs, ornamentals, and ground cover). Photographs in both color slide and black-and-white print film were taken of each area as needed. Digital photos were also taken.
Pedological and geomorphological investigations of the site were also undertaken by a soils scientist to assess soil and landscape relationships pertinent to archeological considerations in the site. This work consisted of pedestrian traversal of the site and its immediate surroundings together with examinations of soil profiles in the ten test unit excavations. Soil properties were described by the project geomorphologist in accordance with standard techniques and nomenclature for the field description of soils.
The Phase II archeological investigation of Site 18PR657 identified a varied cross-section of soil profiles representing a sequence of Pleistocene-age alluvial deposits capped by an A-horizon. Several fill episodes were identified over the A horizon in some areas, associated with push piles and backhoe spoil piles created during the installations of utilities along MD-3. However, prehistoric artifacts were recovered from deeply buried Bw and C horizons in some areas. Geomorphological analysis suggested that these deposits were the result of surface erosion transporting materials across the site.
No intact prehistoric features were identified during Phase II study.
The Phase II archeological investigation of the site recovered a total of 3,468 prehistoric artifacts. A large collection of historic artifacts (254 objects) was also recovered, but these appear to be primarily the result of roadside dumping activities during the 20th century. These artifacts were categorized as “miscellaneous” finds in the table above.
Prehistoric artifacts accounted for the overwhelming majority (93%) of the artifact assemblage. Overall, the prehistoric artifacts collection represents artifact classes associated with lithic procurement and reduction activities. The assemblage consisted of 7 projectile points, 25 bifaces, 5 unifaces, 5 utilized flakes, 9 cores, 506 primary flakes, 1,064 secondary flakes, 1,246 tertiary flakes, 462 pieces of shatter, 87 pieces of unclassified debitage, 3 hammerstones, 40 tested cobbles, 5 pieces of fire-cracked rock, and 4 prehistoric ceramic sherds. The vast majority of the lithic artifacts (3,357 objects) are made of the local quartz raw material. The variety of reduction forms in the tool and debitage assemblage generally reflect resource procurement activities. Diagnostic artifacts included 2 Vernon points, a Bare Island point, a St. Albans side-notched point, a possible Potts corner-notched point, 2 Potomac Creek cord-marked sherds, and an Accokeek cord-marked sherd.
Site 18PR657 was interpreted to represent an Early Archaic and Late Archaic to Late Woodland period lithic procurement station and reduction worksite containing a variety of debitage, bifaces, core, and finishing tools reflecting lithic reduction and tool maintenance activities. The lack of stability in the site’s depositional environment, as identified through the Phase II archeological investigation and the geomorphological assessment of the site, and the absence of cultural features within the site provides little opportunity to uncover new information about settlement patterns and procurement activities during the Archaic and Woodland periods. Site 18PR657 does not have the potential to yield new information important in prehistory or history. No additional investigations were recommended for Site 18PR657 prior to construction of the highway improvements.
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