Homeland Brick Clamp (18CH664)

The Homeland Brick Clamp (18CH664) is the former location of a temporary brick kiln (brick clamp) near Hughesville in Charles County, Maryland.

In 1998 the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) sponsored a Phase I archaeological survey of 2 proposed alternatives for expansion of Maryland Route 5 through Hughesville. Site 18CH664 was identified during the Phase I investigations. Phase I work in the vicinity of the site consisted of 17 shovel test pits (STPs) and a 1 X 2 meter test unit. The work identified a site approximately 28 X 27 m in size, with archaeological features including the remains of a brick clamp and 6 clay borrow pits.

Phase II evaluation was conducted during October of 1999. A 5 meter grid of shovel test pits was placed to determine the site boundaries and identify artifact concentrations within 18CH664. A total of 81 shovel tests were excavated. Eleven 1 X 1 m test units, four 0.5 X 1 m test units and one judgmental test unit were also excavated. Five of these 1 X 1 m test units were placed in areas north of the previously identified brick clamp, and 11 were placed on or adjacent to the brick clamp. All of the test unit soils were passed through hardware cloth, with the exception of soils from 3 of the units adjacent to the clamp.

Researchers returned to the site in 2003 to conduct Phase III data recovery operations. Extensive archival research revealed that 18CH664 is located on land originally owned by a Gabriel Moran. Sometime around 1720, Gabriel purchased approximately 900 acres including the project area. The property was subsequently divided and re-divided amongst his descendants. The brick clamp at 18CH664 could be associated with one of the Moran family dwellings, as there is no record of commercial brickmaking activity in the area.

Phase III field investigations investigated the site for subtle features associated with brickmaking. A close examination of the ground surface was made. Researchers hand dug six 1 X 20 m trenches, one 1 X 15 m trench, and one 1 X 25 m trench. Unscreened excavation of soils proceeded by natural stratigraphy to the subsoil interface, at which point the exposed interface was examined for evidence of features. Most important among the findings during trenching, was the discovery of a second brick clamp (Clamp 2) to the north of the original clamp (Clamp 1) in the area where clay processing pits were earlier identified.

After each clamp was recorded and photographed, the field team selectively dismantled the clamp to fully examine its structure. Clamp 1 was bisected to obtain a cross-section o f the whole feature. On Clamp 2, only a partial bisection was undertaken.

A total of 18 brick (the brick collection from Phase II was deemed sufficient to document the variety at the site) and 123 non-brick artifacts were retained from all stages of the Phase III excavation.

Although the historic context of the clamp is not known and the age of the site is tenuous, the technological attributes recorded on the two clamps provide significant information on brick clamps. Both clamps were in an excellent state of preservation and provided insight into the brick-making process. However, the site today has been severely impacted by construction of MD Route 5 and, consequently, the site has no additional research value.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)