Area B-1, Site D (18CH385)

Site 18CH385 (Area B-1, Site D) is a Late Archaic and Late Woodland short-term camp site located northeast of the town of Indian Head in Charles County, Maryland. It occupies the eastern edge of a ridge, along a small drainage channel that separates in from Site 18CH383 (see synopsis report) to the southeast.

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. The development included the construction of extensive office and retail space, town houses, single-family houses, and a 200-acre golf course. Numerous archaeological sites (both prehistoric and historic) were identified as a part of the 1994 study.

During the Phase I survey, a series of shovel test pits (STPs) were excavated across the site at 20 meter intervals. Supplemental shovel tests were excavated at 10 meter intervals around the initial positive STPs. In all, 103 STPs were excavated. The stratigraphic context of the majority of artifacts recovered during the Phase I survey suggested the potential for resource integrity. Thus, the site was recommended for Phase II testing.

Researchers returned to the site later that year to conduct the Phase II work. Phase II evaluation included systematic shovel testing of the site in order to more carefully define the horizontal and vertical distribution of different quantities and categories of artifacts. Shovel tests were placed at 10 meter intervals. Soils were removed by natural strata and screened through hardware cloth. A total of 105 shovel tests were excavated during the Phase II study. Sixty-one of the STPs contained prehistoric artifacts and 2 yielded prehistoric and historic artifacts. The historic artifacts were two sherds of Buckley earthenware and represent the entire historic assemblage from the site.

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, formal test units were placed throughout the site. A total of 7- 1x1m test units were excavated, generally in the areas of densest artifact concentration. Soils were removed by arbitrary 10 cm levels following natural stratigraphy and were screened through hardware cloth.

A total of 425 of the artifacts were of lithic materials and one ceramic sherd was recovered. Diagnostic artifacts included 1 Clagett or Otter Creek/Hemphill point and 1 sherd of Townsend ware. No cultural features were encountered.

The historic component consists of an extremely limited kitchen debris scatter from the 18th century. The integrity of this deposit is difficult to characterize because of its sparsity.

In the western portion of site 18CH385, the evidence for activity is so unsubstantial that research questions are not likely to be answered. In the more substantial eastern portion of the site, temporal relationships have been blurred by mixing of occupations. Spatial relationships can be identified but without chronological control are unlikely to furnish additional significant information. Therefore, the prehistoric component lacks sufficient integrity to address substantive research questions and should not be considered a significant resource.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)