Site History

The Chaney’s Hills site is located along Flat Creek, a tributary of the South River in Anne Arundel County. Historical records and archaeological evidence indicate that the site was founded by Richard and Charity Chaney and their family c. 1658. Richard Chaney’s 1685 will specified that he had three daughters and three sons. A female servant mentioned in his probate inventory brings the number of possible residents of the site up to at least nine. Chaney sold the parcel to a John Gray at some point prior to his death in 1686, but archaeological evidence suggests that Gray never resided there.

Archaeology

Chaney’s Hills was discovered during a 1998 Phase I investigation of a proposed housing development. Phase II and III investigations by ACS Consultants placed 12 excavation units around the site, and an additional 117 test units were excavated by the Anne Arundel County Lost Tows Project. These excavations exposed post-hole patterns indicative of two earthfast structures: a presumed primary dwelling that measures at least 70’ by 17’ and contains two fireplaces; and a more ephemeral structure that seems to be associated with two cellars or pit features, one of which was full of fireplace debris (i.e. ash, brick, and daub). Post-holes are present near these pit features, but excavations have not yet exposed enough to fully define the structure.

References

http://www.chesapeakearchaeology.org/SiteSummaries/ChaneysHillsSummary.cfm

The Chaney's Hills archaeological collection is owned by Anne Arundel County and curated by the Anne Arundel County Lost Towns Project.