AREA A-3, SITE A
18CH380

Introduction

Site 18CH380 occupies a south-facing slope and small flat terrace on the northern edge of an unnamed stream floodplain in the Mattawoman Creek drainage in Charles County, Maryland.  This site is large and covers varied terrain.  There may be several loci or activity areas within the larger scatter of material.  The site contains two stratified prehistoric components: an upper, Late Woodland period component distributed throughout the site and a lower, Late Archaic or Early Woodland period component (including a small Lamoka or Vernon point) more restricted in its distribution.  Late 18^th- or early 19^th-century occupation is also indicated by a historic artifact scatter.

Archaeological Investigations

Phase II evaluation of 18CH380 was conducted by R. Christopher Goodwin and Associates, Inc. in 1994.

The prehistoric component at 18CH380 consists of two vertically discrete occupations, one probably from the Late Archaic period and one probably from the Late Woodland period.  Both suggested similar ranges of activity, with somewhat different horizontal distribution.  Both occupational phases at the site appear to reflect multi-activity/secondary reduction and base camps or short term encampments. 

The historic component consists of a light scatter of late 18^th- or early 19^th-century kitchen debris.  The quantity of material and the absence of architectural artifacts suggests that this component is merely a light field scatter, probably associated with a farmstead located further north on the ridge crest.

Archeobotanical Studies

Two flotation samples and one hand-collected carbon concentration were collected from cultural contexts associated with Late Archaic or Early Woodland occupations at 18CH380.  Archeobotanical remains were analyzed by Justine McKnight.

A total of 1.5 liters of fill was floated from Feature 601, a cluster of fire-cracked-rock and lithic debitage.  Processing this material yielded 0.04 grams of carbonized plant remains.  Most of the charcoal consisted of wood remains, including one oak (Quercus sp.) fragment.  Other arboreal specimens include a possible oak gall and various woody twig fragments.  In addition, a site total of six nightshade (Solanum sp.) seeds were identified.

A 1.5 liter flotation sample processed from Feature 602 (another fire-cracked-rock concentration) failed to produce any archaeological plant remains. 

One 3.21g charcoal sample was hand collected from TU 2, level 2.  This specimen belonged to southern pine (Pinus sp.). 

References