Mathews Site (18CH350)

The Mathews Site (18CH350) is primarily the archaeological remnants of a late 18th-19th century plantation house on the south side of Swan Point Neck in Charles County. In addition to the plantation established in the 18th century, remnants of 17th century occupation and an Early and Late Woodland artifact scatter are also present.

The history of ownership of the land containing the Mathews Site begins with a 1642 land grant of 2,000 acres to James Neale. Born in England, Neale was a prominent individual in Maryland politics. He named the entire land grant, as well as his dwelling, “Wollaston Manor.” This land was subsequently divided many times among his descendants, including the Digges and Mathews families. A 1755 plat depicts division of the property into six separate parcels or tracts. 18CH350 is estimated to be situated within the bounds of Tract 1, also known as “Poplar Point.”

Site 18CH350 was first identified during a 1991 archaeological survey. A cellar hole, chimney falls, and a round depression (thought to possibly represent a well) were discernable on the surface of the site. Based on the presence of the cellar hole and other features, ten shovel test pits (STPs) were situated around the cellar hole and to the east at intervals of 15.24 m (50 ft). Three additional STPs from a transect survey crossed the northern portion of the site at 36.6 m (120 ft) intervals.

In 2007 Phase II testing was carried out at 18CH350. 146 shovel tests and 7 test units (four 91 X 91 cm, one 61 X 122 cm, one 61 X 61 cm, and one 61 X 152 cm) were excavated. Excavations uncovered five cultural features, including a cellar hole with fill, an oyster shell midden, two brick foundation walls, and a domestic refuse pit. In total 3,851 historic and modern items, and 19 prehistoric artifacts were recovered.

Upon examining the cultural remains, it was concluded that Site 18CH350 had a rural domestic function and an early-to-late 19th century temporal affiliation, rather than a 17th century occupation. A Phase III data recovery was carried out soon after the 2007 Phase II project ended as the site would be impacted by the planned developments on the property.

During the 2007-2008 data recovery fieldwork a total of fifteen 1.524 m (5 ft) squares was excavated within three areas: 9 units dedicated to the cellar hole, four to the addition area, and two to the oyster shell midden. Most excavated soils were screened on site using hardware cloth. A portion of feature soils was water screened off-site using window screen mesh. 22 natural and cultural features were identified. In addition to the dwelling foundation, cellar hole, and oyster shell midden, the feature discovery included a domestic trash pit and other pit features, several builder’s trench sections, a few brick piers and stone timber supports, a drainage trench, posts and postmolds, and a purposeful tree burn.

In total, the artifact recovery contained 30,198 materials retained for analysis in the lab: 30,140 historic/modern objects and 58 prehistoric objects. The artifact recovery was mostly confined to the cellar hole fill and oyster shell midden soils.

The site today has been largely impacted by development of the nearby golf course and associated homes and the likelihood that additional intact deposits remain is very slim.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)