Area A-1, Site L (18CH378)

Site 18CH378 (Area A-1, Site L) is located on a finger ridge northeast of the town of Indian Head in Charles County, Maryland. The site has both prehistoric and historic components. The prehistoric site, which is a large artifact scatter, is located mainly on the ridge, with two smaller scattered loci to the west and south. Two principal historic loci are located in the north central and southern portions of the site.

Structural remains consist of a pile of brick and stone architectural debris, probably a ruined chimney. The base of the pile consists of the remains of an articulated foundation featuring three courses of unhewn and roughly hewn field stones.

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 51 shovel test pits (STPs) were excavated across the site. Fourteen initial STPs at 20 m intervals contained prehistoric artifacts, 2 STPs contained historic artifacts, and 4 STPs contained both historic and prehistoric artifacts.

Researchers returned to the site later that year to conduct Phase II testing which included a systematic shovel testing of the site. A total of 122 shovel tests were excavated.

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, 17 locations were subjected to formal test unit investigations. Seventeen test units measuring 1 X 1 m were excavated. Soils were removed by arbitrary 10 cm levels following natural stratigraphy and were screened through hardware cloth.

A total of 3,806 prehistoric artifacts were recovered during Phase II investigation at Site 18CH378. The four prehistoric concentrations at the site generally seem to have been loci of a wide range of activities, including reduction, final manufacture and maintenance, and lithics applications tasks. The variety of tasks represented at the site suggests that the prehistoric deposits at 18CH378 represent a Late Archaic multiple activity/extractive site and base camp.

A total of 780 historic artifacts were recovered from Site 18CH378. The horizontal distribution of historic artifacts indicates two concentrations of historic activity. Two chronological groups of diagnostic artifacts within the assemblage (one dating from the late 18th-early 19th century and a larger one dating to the late 19th-early 20th century) fit almost perfectly with the two distinct artifact concentrations encountered. Therefore, it appears that there were two chronologically and spatially distinct historic occupations at the site.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)