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Introduction
Site 18CH736 contains multiple prehistoric short-term
camps dating to the Late Archaic and Late Woodland periods. The
site is situated in a wooded setting on a high terrace above an
unnamed tributary of Mattawoman Creek in Charles County.
Archaeological Investigations
This site was originally recorded by GAI Consultants,
Inc. during an extensive Phase I survey of a pipeline right-of-way
(ROW) on behalf of Dominion Cove Point LNG in 2004. The site consisted
of a 70m x 20m artifact scatter. Nine positive shovel tests were
excavated on the site. Artifacts were recovered from the A and E
horizons. They included 27 quartz and quartzite lithic flakes, two
fire-cracked rocks, and one quartzite biface fragment. The modest
artifact assemblage suggested one or several prehistoric encampments.
In April-May 2005, GAI conducted Phase II investigations
on the site, consisting of 5m-interval shovel testing and test unit
excavations. Based on Phase II testing, the site boundaries were
expanded to 85m x 50m (279' x 164').
In May 2005, Dominion proposed rerouting a portion
of the pipeline. The proposed Rainbow Reroute lies south of and
partly overlaps the previously-tested proposed project ROW in the
vicinity of the site. GAI conducted additional Phase I investigations
of previously-untested portions of the project area within the Rainbow
Reroute ROW. This work consisted of excavating three transects of
systematic 15m-interval shovel test pits, followed by radial shovel
testing, for a total of 65 STPS. Of these, 25 were positive, producing
54 prehistoric lithic artifacts (50 debitage, 1 core, and 3 FCR).
No diagnostic artifacts were recovered and no cultural features
were identified.
Additional Phase I shovel testing resulted in the
expansion of the site boundary to the south and east for total site
dimensions of 130m x 80m (427' x 263'). The portion of the site
located within the Rainbow Reroute measures 130m x 50m (427' x 164').
To evaluate the National Register eligibility of
the portion of the site within the Rainbow Reroute, GAI returned
to the site in August 2005 to conduct Phase II testing. This fieldwork
involved 80 shovel tests at 5m intervals and four 1m x 1m test units.
The shovel testing recovered an additional 26 lithic artifacts,
and the test units produced 74.
Combined, both Phase I and II investigations of
the site yielded a grand total of 1,852 artifacts, including 1,803
lithics and 49 historic/modern artifacts. Excavations included a
total of 11 1m x 1m test units and 315 shovel test pits (of which
136 were positive). Diagnostic artifacts recovered from 18CH736
included 15 projectile points. Three were Late Archaic period Vernon/Halifax,
2 were Late Archaic period Clagett, 1 was a Late Archaic period
contracting stem, 1 was a Late Archaic period Lackawaxen, two were
Piscataway, and one was a Late Woodland period triangular point.
Overall, the point assemblage reflects a multi-component mixed occupation
from multiple Late Archaic and Late Woodland period site visits.
Archeobotanical Studies
Archeobotanical studies were conducted by Katie
Parker as part of Phase II investigations at 18CH736. A single 3.0
liter flotation sample was collected from the east half of Feature
1. Feature 1 was a possible prehistoric feature within Test Units
4 and 7, originally defined by a surface exposure of FCR within
a burned reddish-orange subsoil at its interface with the A horizon.
The feature maintained an oval plan view and a basin-shaped profile,
measuring approximately 66 cm north-south and 32 cm east-west. The
feature extended to a total depth of 34 cm at its center. A total
of 32 artifacts were recovered from Feature 1, including 19 FCR,
five flakes, five hammerstones, one mano, and two natural cobbles.
No diagnostic artifacts were recovered from the feature, and the
lack of large charcoal fragments prevented radiocarbon dating. Flotation
of three liters of Feature 1 fill produced a single fragment of
charred oak wood, weighing 0.01 grams. Very small charcoal flecks
were also present, but could not be identified. Oak is a naturally
occurring tree in the vicinity of the project area, and it is unclear
if its presence in the feature is a result of natural or cultural
processes.
References
| Lothrop, Jonathan C., Benjamin Resnick, Lori A. Frye, Matthew Hyland,
Barbara A. Munford, Douglas H. MacDonald, David L. Cremeens, and
Lisa Dugas |
| 2006 |
Technical Report: Phase I Cultural Resources
Survey and Phase II National Register Evaluations,
Cove
Point Expansion TL-532 Pipeline, Calvert, Prince George's, and Charles
Counties, Maryland. (GAI
Consultants, Inc.). |
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