Area A-1, Site F (18CH376)

Site 18CH376 (Area A-1, Site F) is primarily a Late Archaic base camp located northeast of the town of Indian Head in Charles County, Maryland. The site occupies the northern edge of a west-trending finger ridge and overlooks a steep slope and the floodplain of an unnamed stream. Historic artifact scatters are also present at the site, dating to the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.

The site was originally investigated as part of a large Phase I survey in 1994, prior to the onset of site preparation and construction for the Chapman’s Landing development. Numerous archaeological sites (both prehistoric and historic) were identified as a part of the 1994 study.

During the Phase I survey, a total of 6 shovel test pits (STPs) were initially excavated across the site at 20 meter intervals. Nine additional Phase I STPs were excavated at 10 m intervals around original positive shovel tests. Large numbers of lithic flakes were present in both the first and second soil strata. A piece of green non-machine made bottle glass and a sherd of gray stoneware also were recovered from one of the additional shovel tests. No artifacts (prehistoric or historic) were recovered below a depth of 31 cmbs(((?)))

Later the same year, Phase II evaluation included a systematic shovel testing of the site. Shovel tests were placed at 10 meter intervals. Soils were removed by natural strata and screened through hardware cloth. A total of 43 shovel tests were excavated. Thirty-six of the STPs produced prehistoric artifacts alone, and 3 produced both prehistoric and historic artifacts. A total of 376 prehistoric artifacts were recovered.

Based upon the numerical concentrations and types of artifacts recovered during the Phase II intensive shovel testing, as well as data gathered from the Phase I investigation, eight locations were subjected to formal test unit investigations. The 8- 1x1m test units were. Soils were removed by arbitrary 10 cm levels following natural stratigraphy and were screened through hardware cloth. A total of 4,524 prehistoric artifacts were recovered including 5 diagnostic points. Two small scatters of historic artifacts were identified and a small number retained.

Within the prehistoric component at 18CH376, there is sufficient horizontal integrity to differentiate distinct activity areas. Therefore, further work at the site can address substantive research questions. The two historic occupations at the site retain horizontal integrity. However, their association with a particular natural stratum is uncertain. The low quantity of historic material indicates minimal potential to address meaningful research issues.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)