Introduction
The Sykesville LEDTF Cemetery (18CR239) is a Late 18th-early 19th Century Tenant
Farm cemetery in Carroll County.
Archaeological Investigations
Analysis of the artifacts recovered from the burials excavated within the
Sykesville cemetery indicate that the individuals interred there were buried
between the years 1790-1825. The results of documentary research, artifact study
and osteological analyses suggest that the cemetery had been used by a family or
several families who were tenant farmers. The physical rigor of their daily
lives was evident in the human remains and the simple nature of the burial
furniture and clothing testify to their socio-economic standing. Osteological
information revealed that several of the individuals were related. The strong
family ties forged through work and leisure activities during life were
expressed through closeness in death.
Archeobotanical Studies
Soil samples from 13 burials were processed by URS Greiner and of these 10
contexts from six burials were submitted to the Center for Cultural and
environmental History and the University of Massachusetts Boston for analysis. A total of 6 burials contained
archeobotanical remains (67 seeds - all uncarbonized) that could be associated
with funerary offerings, suggestive of regional burial practices and folk
beliefs. Sassafras seeds were identified in Burials 2 (an elderly female), 7 (an
adult female aged 45-49), and 13 (a subadult aged 1.5-2). Pokeweed seeds were
recovered from Burials 3 (an adult female aged 50-59), 6 (an adult male aged
around 35), and 12 (an adult female aged 30-40). A single blackberry or
raspberry seed was also found with Burial 3. The presence of sassafras,
pokeweed, and rubus seeds (blackberry/raspberry) in direct association with the
burials at 18CR239 is similar to findings at a contemporaneous African-American
cemetery (18FR323) at Catoctin Furnace located near Frederick, Maryland. See the
synopsis report and ethnobotanical profile for 18FR323 for details regarding the
seeds encountered at that site. The inclusion of the seeds in the Catoctin
burials were interpreted as African burial customs or folk practices, but their
presence in the Caucasian burials at 18CR323 may indicate that this is a
regional tradition that crosses ethnic boundaries.
References
Slaughter, B.W., and E.H. Manning Sterling |
2001 |
Data Recovery at 18CR239, the Sykesville
Law Enforcement Driver Training Facility Cemetery,
Sykesville, Carroll
County, Maryland. (URS Corporation) MHT # CR 33. |
|