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Boyers Mill Rockshelter (18FR6)

Site History

The Boyers Mill Rockshelter site (18FR6) is a Late Archaic and Early, Middle, and Late Woodland rockshelter on a low terrace near the confluence of Linganore Creek and an unnamed tributary in Frederick County, Maryland. The shelter is 56 feet in length, 30-41 feet in height, with an irregular overhang varying from 10-22 feet.

Archaeological Investigations

The site was first tested in 1935 by E. Ralston Goldsborough, with a Works Progress Administration crew. Reportedly, the University of Maryland examined the rockshelter in 1945. It was also examined archaeologically by avocational archaeologist Spencer Geasey between 1954 and 1956.

Of the 206 lithic artifacts found at the site, 116 were of rhyolite, 56 of quartz, 33 of chert, and 1 of quartzite. Diagnostic points included Otter Creek, Brewerton side-and corner-notched Snook Kill, Bare Island, Savannah River, Susquehanna Broadspear, Rossville, Potts, Hellgrammite, Selby Bay, Jack's Reef Pentagonal, and Heck Rockshelter. Prehistoric ceramics included Marcey Creek plain (1 vessel), Selden Island cord-marked (1 vessel), Mockley cord-marked (1 vessel), Shepard cord-marked (6 vessels), Moyaone plain (2 vessels), Page cord-marked (1 vessel), Keyser cord-marked (3 vessels), Keyser-like Mica tempered (1 vessel), and Albemarle quartz-tempered fabric-impressed (1 vessel). In addition, 3 untempered clay elbow pipe fragments were recovered as were 4 hammerstones, 2 gorget or pendant fragments, and faunal remains from deer, racoon, turkey, and turtle.

The site had been flooded, as evidenced by numerous deposits of silt and gravel. A pronounced one-inch layer of dark-colored earth, approximately 10 inches below the surface at the south end of the shelter, contained Late Woodland material. At the north end of the shelter, where this dark strata had completely diminished, Late Woodland artifacts were recovered within 2-3" of the surface. The site was excavated to an average depth of 15 inches. The only feature observed was a stone lined hearth near the south end of the rockshelter.

References

Geasey, Spencer O.

1968   The Boyers Mill Rock-Shelter (Site 18FR6). Maryland Archeology Vol. 4, No. 2:25-37.

Geasey, Spencer O.

1993   "A Comparative Analysis of Flaked Lithic and Ceramic Assemblages from Three Rock Shelters in Frederick County, Maryland." Maryland Archeology 29(1&2):43-53.

(Edited from archeological site survey form, Maryland Historical Trust)

Associated Artifacts

Potomac Creek

Image of ceramic, Crushed Quartz Tempered Body with Plain/Smoothed Surface Treatment, Potomac Creek type, Undecorated
18FR6 Boyers Mill Rockshelter Potomac Creek Potomac Creek Plain body crushed quartz tempered plain/smoothed surface treatment undecorated Late Woodland Period Contact Period

Potomac Creek

Image of ceramic, Crushed Quartz Tempered Mended Body with Plain/Smoothed Surface Treatment, Potomac Creek type, Undecorated
18FR6 Boyers Mill Rockshelter Potomac Creek Potomac Creek Plain mended body crushed quartz tempered plain/smoothed surface treatment undecorated Late Woodland Period Contact Period

Potomac Creek

Image of ceramic, Crushed Quartz Tempered Body with Cord-Marked/Smoothed Surface Treatment, Potomac Creek type, Cord-Wrapped Stick
18FR6 Boyers Mill Rockshelter Potomac Creek Potomac Creek Cord-Marked body crushed quartz tempered cord-marked/smoothed surface treatment cord-wrapped stick Late Woodland Period Contact Period

Potomac Creek

Image of ceramic, Crushed Quartz Tempered Mended Rim with Plain/Smoothed Surface Treatment, Potomac Creek type, Direct Cord-Marked
18FR6 Boyers Mill Rockshelter Potomac Creek Potomac Creek Cord-Marked mended rim crushed quartz tempered plain/smoothed surface treatment straight rim direct cord-marked Late Woodland Period Contact Period

Calvert

Image of stone projectile point made of Quartzite, Stemmed shape, with a Straight stem, Straight blade, and Straight base shape. Calvert type.
18FR6 Boyers Mill Rockshelter Calvert stemmed quartzite straight blade straight stem straight base Early Woodland Period

Levanna

Image of stone projectile point made of Chert, Triangular shape, with a N/A stem, Incurvate blade, and Concave base shape. Levanna type.
18FR6 Boyers Mill Rockshelter Levanna triangular chert incurvate blade N/A stem concave base Late Woodland Period

Levanna

Image of stone projectile point made of Chert, Triangular shape, with a N/A stem, Straight blade, and Straight base shape. Levanna type.
18FR6 Boyers Mill Rockshelter Levanna triangular chert straight blade N/A stem straight base Late Woodland Period

Madison

Image of stone projectile point made of Rhyolite, Triangular shape, with a N/A stem, Straight blade, and Concave base shape. Madison type.
18FR6 Boyers Mill Rockshelter Madison triangular rhyolite straight blade N/A stem concave base Late Woodland Period

Madison

Image of stone projectile point made of Chert, Triangular shape, with a N/A stem, Straight blade, and Concave base shape. Madison type.
18FR6 Boyers Mill Rockshelter Madison triangular chert straight blade N/A stem concave base Late Woodland Period

Susquehanna Broadspear

Image of stone projectile point made of Rhyolite, Stemmed shape, with a Expanding stem, Straight blade, and Concave base shape. Susquehanna Broadspear type.
18FR6 Boyers Mill Rockshelter Susquehanna Broadspear stemmed rhyolite straight blade expanding stem concave base Late Archaic Period