Phase II and Phase III Archaeological Database and Inventory
18ST677 AA-2
Diagnostic Artifact Data
Features
Summary
Site AA-2 (18ST677) is a multicomponent site with a mid- to late 17th century domestic occupation or farmstead, and small Middle-Late Archaic and Late Woodland prehistoric components. The site is located in Leonardtown, St. Mary’s County. It is situated on the edge of a small terrace located between a secondary drainage of McIntosh Run and the toe of an ascending slope. Soils at the site primarily correspond to the Evesboro series with soils that correspond to the Rumford series in the northernmost portion of the site. The core of the site measures approximately 40 m (131.2’) north-south by 15 m (49.2’) east-west.
Phase I archival and archeological investigations were conducted during the winter of 1996 ahead of proposed construction of the Tudor Hall Village development on Breton Bay in Leonardtown. The investigations were a condition of approval in response to a request for a wetlands permit from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Goals of the investigation were to locate, identify, and delineate all prehistoric and historic cultural resources within the project area, to make preliminary assessments of the potential significance of those resources applying the National Register criteria, to assess the impact of the proposed development activities on the cultural resources situated within the project boundaries, and to formulate management recommendations concerning those resources. Of the 480-acres (194.33 ha) that were part of the proposed development, a total of 271.13-acres (109.77 ha) were subject to Phase I study.
Background research indicated that there has been human activity in the project area for thousands of years. Prehistoric activity and occupation in the general vicinity of the site can be dated from archeology back to at least the Early Archaic period (7,500 BC). Middle Archaic materials were found at a nearby site and Late Archaic diagnostics were found in the vicinity, for example on a broad flat terrace overlooking Breton Bay. Although not many in number, a few sites in the general project area contain materials definitively dating to the Early, Middle, and Late Woodland periods.
Documentary research revealed that in 1708, Leonardtown became the new county seat of St. Mary’s. The period of Rural Agrarian Intensification (1680-1815) provided the context for the evaluation of site 18ST677. Throughout the late 17th and early18th centuries Philip Lynes, a wealthy businessman, owned the property encompassing the proposed development area. As a member of the St. Mary’s Council, he was an active proponent of moving St. Mary’s County Court from St. Mary’s City to the head of Breton Bay. An act was passed that provided for the purchase of 50-acres of land belonging to Lynes called “Shepherd’s Old Field”. A county court house was erected on an acre of land and the remaining property was to be divided into 100 lots for the establishment of a town called ‘Seymour Towne’. Seymour Towne failed to develop and in 1728 a new commission was appointed to erect a new town at the location, a town that came to be called Leonard Town after then Maryland Governor Benedict Leonard Calvert. The original 50 acres of the former town were divided into 80 equal lots. In about 1741, Abraham Barnes purchased a parcel of land on Breton Bay, including Shepherd’s Old Field. By 1742, he had acquired all the land that encompassed the current boundaries of Leonardtown and the Tudor Hall development property. Barnes began construction of Tudor Hall in the 1740’s. The current project area, at that time, served as agricultural fields for Barnes’ Tudor Hall Plantation. There were no known structures. Philip Key purchased the property in 1813 and it remained with his family throughout the 19th century. A survey conducted in 1830 depicts a building called the ‘Over Seers House” within the general project area. No other structures are indicated until the 20th century. Residential and agricultural complexes are located on the farm encompassed by the project area.
Phase I archeological investigations included pedestrian survey in areas where the slope was more than 15%, surface collection in fields where visibility was greater than 75%, and systematic sub-surface testing in all portions of the woodlot and areas where the slope was less than 15%. The project area was divided into 42 survey areas based on current land use patterns. Current and former agricultural fields and pasture areas were designated by a single alphabetic prefix (Areas A-U). Woodlot areas were designated by use of a double alphabetic prefix (Areas AA-AU). A temporary datum (N1000/E1000) was established for each survey area. Pedestrian survey and surface collection were done on established at 10 m intervals. Shovel tests were excavated at 20 m intervals along transects set at 20 m apart. All soils were screened through ¼” hardware cloth. All artifacts except for clearly modern debris were retained.
Site 18ST677 was situated in the southeastern corner of Area AA, in the northwestern quadrant of the project area. The site was defined by 23 shovel tests. Two loci related to the historic use at the site were identified, one in the southern portion of the site associated with two features, and the other on a level area near the terrace crest in the northern portion of the site corresponding to a diffuse scatter of historic materials. These were referred to as Locus 1 and Locus 2 respectively during the subsequent Phase II investigation.
The historic component of site 18ST677 consisted of an artifact concentration that included two features. Feature AA2-I (ST N840/E1060) was a pit located on the southern edge of the site. The feature was identified at the base of the plowzone, at 24 cmbs, and reached a depth of 70 cmbs within the shovel test. The feature fill contained domestic and architectural debris, and the lack of distinct stratigraphic breaks within the fill matrix suggested that the feature was filled in a single episode. The contour of the base of the feature sloped to the south indicating that it expanded and deepened in that direction. Feature AA2-II (ST E1060/N835) was a stratified pit located 5 m south of Feature AA2-I. The stratification was interpreted to indicate that this had been an open pit. Stratum FIV contained about 50% charred wood fragments, which composed a distinct layer of burned organic material that included charred sticks, twigs, small branches and small blocky fragments of wood. While temporally similar to the first feature, Feature AA2-II contained fewer amounts of architectural debris. Excavation was halted at 88 cmbs before the base of the feature was reached.
A small numbers of prehistoric materials were clustered along the northern boundary of the site. It was suggested that the artifacts were related to the nearby prehistoric site 18ST676 rather than 18ST677. A ceramic sherd was recovered from the humus layer and the remaining artifacts were retrieved from both the plowzone and subsoil horizons. No prehistoric cultural features were identified.
A total of 61 historic artifacts were retained during the Phase I survey. There was 1 activity item (1 tool fragment). There were 28 architectural items (9 brick fragments, 1 daub/chinking pieces, 1 window glass shard, 11 rosehead nails, 1 L-head nail, 4 unidentified nails, and 1 possible building stone). There were 22 kitchen-related items (1 machine made bottle glass fragment, 1 case bottle fragment, 2 North Devon Sgrafitto, 1 Rockingham/Bennington, 1 Stafforshire slipware, 1 imported brown stoneware, 1 oyster shell fragment, and 14 animal bones). There was 1 miscellaneous item (1 unidentified iron/steel object). There was 1 arms related item (1 English gunflint). There were 8 tobacco items (3 white clay pipe stem fragments and 5 white clay bowl fragments).
A total of 13 prehistoric artifacts were retained during the Phase I survey. There were 8 pieces of debitage and 1 Lamoka point dated to the Middle-Late Archaic period. There were 3 fire-cracked rock (FCR) fragments. There was 1 unidentified grog-tempered sherd.
A Phase II commenced at 18ST677 in the summer of 1997. The objectives of the Phase II were to identify the vertical and horizontal boundaries of the site, to identify the cultural affiliation and functional ranges represented by the site, to determine the level of integrity present, to provide an assessment of the potential significance of the site’s eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places, and to make management recommendations for the resource.
Phase II testing consisted of the excavation of 10 shovel tests to supplement information obtained during the Phase I survey. One 2X2 m block (TU1-TU9), or the equivalent, was placed over each feature located during the Phase I study in order to determine the horizontal definition and vertical integrity of the features. A total of three 1X1 m test units (TU10-TU12) were excavated in the area of Locus 2. TU12 was placed on the northern fringe of the site to investigate a stratigraphic change first noted during the Phase I study. With the exception of artifacts obtained from the feature fills, all historic items were collected from the humus and plowzone layers. No historic artifacts were recovered from TU12. Prehistoric artifacts were collected primarily from the sub-plowzone level with a few from the humus and plowzone levels. 68% of the prehistoric material derived from Locus 2 in the north portion of the site.
During the Phase II investigation, the two previously identified features were further examined. Five additional historic features were uncovered. Feature AA2-I was a roughly circular soil stain identified in TU1, 2, 3, and 6. Only the portion within TU1 was excavated. It was determined that Feature AA2-I was the uppermost stratum of Feature AA2-VI, and it was suggested to be a horizon that represents a sheet midden deposit that occurred after the infilling of Feature AA2-VI pit. Feature AA2-III was found in TU3. It was a roughly oblong stain that measured 18 cm X 50 cm. The feature was not excavated and no materials were collected. Feature AA2-IV occupied much of the western half of TU3. The amorphous soil stain extended into the western wall of the test unit. The feature was not excavated and no materials were collected. Feature AA2-V was a roughly circular stain located in TU1. It measured about 17 cm at its deepest point. The entire feature matrix was retained for flotation and no cultural materials were collected in the field.
Feature AA2-VI was also located in TU1 and extended beyond the southern and western limits of the unit. The feature, a deep, steep sided pit with a slightly concave base, was determined to be a cellar or trash pit. The superficial diameter of the feature was estimated to be 3 m across the center and the basal diameter was estimated at 1.5 m across the center. Thirteen distinct stratigraphic episodes were identified in the feature, 5 that appeared to be relatively isolated depositional episodes and 8 that comprised the primary depositional layers of the feature. Pipe fragments with the markings “LE” date two of the deposits to the late 17th century. Large amounts of animal bone were recovered from Feature AA2-VI along with corncob fragments, shell and eggshell fragments.
Feature AA2-II was a broad, shallow pit located in TU4, 5, 7, and 8. It averaged 30 cm in depth and contained a minimum of 6 depositional episodes. The horizontal limits and the nature or function of the feature were not determined. Possibly this was a secondary, incidental refuse pit. Two additional features (Features AA2-VII and AA2-VIII) were identified at the base of Feature AA2-II. Feature AA2-VII was a roughly circular pit with scalloped edges. Only about one third of the feature was visible within TU4 and was excavated. The superficial diameter was estimated to be 120 cm and the basal diameter was estimated to be 70 cm, and the depth of the feature was 32 cm. Two brick fragments were retrieved from the feature fill. Feature AA2-VIII consisted of a small, irregularly shaped inclusion of compact and mottled soils. Approximately one third of the feature was present in TU4 and was excavated. The superficial dimensions of AA2-VIII were 26 cm X 50 cm, and the fill contained only fragments of decayed brick.
Nineteen soil samples (38 liters) were collected from Feature AA2-VI for flotation processing and ethnobotanical analysis. Flotation yielded 195.39 grams (10,629 fragments) of charcoal including 74 maple, 1 maple/birch, 1 black walnut, 26 hickory, 44 American chestnut, 5 dogwood, 4 ash, 1 American holly, 8 osage orange, quercus sp.(oak) (1 red group, 137 white group and 36 unspecified), 12 diffuse porous, 9 ring porous, 11 deciduous taxa, and 10 unidentified species. The wood varieties are consistent with the regional forest cover for the period of site occupation. Nut remains include one example of the walnut family. The 26 nut remains include 1 crotolaria, 1 squash, 2 spurge, 1 tulip poplar, 6 cherry, 1 doveweed, 1 deer vetch, 43 knotweed, 1 dock, 50 nightshade, 2 grape, 2 vetch, 1 compositae fragment, 3 gramineae entire, 2 unidentified seeds, and 4 unidentifiable seed fragments. Remains of field crops include 1,275 corn fragments, and 10 wheat and 1 wheat/oat fragment. Other plant remains include 341 amorphous carbon pieces, 6 unidentified rind fragments, 1 woody thorn, and 1 fungal fructification. The majority of the corn fragments were recovered from strata V-VIII within the feature. The archeo-botanical assemblage indicates that the landscape at site 18ST677 during the 17th century likely consisted of agricultural fields and a mixed hardwood forest. A more detailed discussion and analysis can be found in Appendix II of the original report.
An analysis of the faunal remains collected from 18ST677 identified an estimated 9 individuals from the 1,304 collected remains. This including 1 stripped bass, 1 snapping turtle, 1 tree squirrel, 1 domestic cat, 1 domestic pig, 1 white-tailed deer, 2 cows, and 1 chicken. There were unidentified fish specimens (N=110) including scales, dorsal, and miscellaneous spines and vertebra. Bird bone and bird eggshells were also identified. Nearly 65% of the faunal remains were classified as ‘unidentified mammal’. A more detailed discussion and analysis can be found in Appendix I of the original report.
A total of 4,352 historic artifacts were recovered during the Phase II investigation. Counts are taken from the artifact inventory in Appendix III of the original report. There were 2 activity items (1 piece of non-electrical wire and 1 possible horse bit fragment). There were 2,229 architectural items (1,871 brick fragments, 50 daub/chinking pieces, 15 mortar pieces, 90 plaster or daub fragments, 94 rosehead nails, 102 unidentified wrought/cut nails, 3 miscellaneous architectural hardware (possible tacks), 2 hardware tacks, and 2 worked sandstone building stones/flagstones). There were 3 clothing items (1 silver, possible partial clothing accessory part, 1 white metal 17th c. button with floral pattern, and 1 brass buckle). There were 1,775 kitchen-related items (26 non-machine made bottle glass fragments, 2 case bottle fragment, 3 unidentified bottle glass fragment, 31 North Devon Gravel tempered, 59 North Devon Sgrafitto, 4 North Devon thin, 78 unidentified coarse earthenware, 1 Westerwald gray stoneware, 6 Delft tin enameled earthenware, 3 Rhenish brown, 2 imported brown stoneware, 14 imported gray stoneware, 3 redware, 2 Slipware, 3 nut/seed/pit, 6 corn cob fragments, 1 crab shell fragment, 2 clam shells, 224 oyster shell fragments, 1 unidentifiable shell piece, and 1,304 animal bones including butchered/cut, teeth, and unidentified bones). There were 99 miscellaneous items (32 unidentified iron/steel objects, 2 unidentified flattened lead disc, 6 unidentified metal pieces, 1 unidentified copper strip object, 1 unidentified lead strip (possibly window came), 1 small metal clip either jewelry or clothing part, 50 wood charcoal samples, 1 wood sample, and 5 unidentified stone). There was 1 personal item (a metal decorative piece). There were 211 tobacco items (106 white clay pipe stem fragments, 90 white clay bowl fragments, 7 red clay pipe stem fragments, and 8 red clay pipe bowl fragments). There were 32 arms related items (23 English flint flake, 1 English gunflint, 7 French flint flake, and 1 modern .22 rimfire cartridge).
A total of 35 prehistoric artifacts were recovered during the Phase II investigation. There were 26 pieces of debitage and 1 core. There were 2 non-diagnostic biface tools. There were 4 fire-cracked rocks. Quartz was the dominant raw material with amounts of quartzite, chert and rhyolite also present in the assemblage. There were 2 Yeocomico ceramic sherds that are dated to the terminal Late Woodland period. The sherds were recovered from the upper stratigraphic layer of the 17th century pit Feature AA2-II. Therefore, the ceramic was thought to represent either incidental deposition related to disturbance of the site’s prehistoric component or an aboriginal and European co-occupation of the area during the late 17th century.
At site AA-2 (18ST677), slightly more than half of the prehistoric artifacts were collected from a sub-plowzone context indicating that a degree of stratigraphic integrity remains. The close proximity of the site to 18ST676, a prehistoric site, further suggests that there is a potential for the presence of intact prehistoric cultural features. Over 90% of the artifacts from the historic component were recovered from a sub-plowzone context and from intact features. This indicates stratigraphic integrity for the historic component at the site. Landuse patterns as related to discernable aspects of intra-site activity can be addressed with the early historic site overlying a prehistoric site. In addition, the potential association of nearby historic site 18ST670 with site 18ST677 can provide a sequential link in the historic occupation of the land that later became incorporated in the Tudor Hall holdings. Mitigative data recovery is recommended particularly for the historic component of site 18ST677 if impacts to the site cannot be avoided.
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