Horse Farm No. 6 (18CH724)

Horse Farm No. 6, or Site 18CH724, is an Archaic and Woodland base camp or short-term camp and also an 18th-20th century farmstead on the west end of Swan Point Neck in Charles County.

The history of ownership of the land containing the Horse Farm No. 6 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, and various parcels passed through several owners until the mid-20th century. Much of the original Wollaston Manor property, including the area of 18CH728, was acquired by the Maryland Realty Investment Trust and later sold to the US Steel Corporation in 1969.

Site 18CH724 was initially identified during a reconnaissance survey carried out in April of 2004. The Phase I fieldwork was initiated with a pedestrian survey or walk-over followed by shovel testing and controlled surface collection. Ten archaeological sites were defined within the study area, including 18CH724.

During the Phase I survey 18CH724 was defined and several intact cultural features were identified through subsurface investigation. These features included an early-to-mid 19th century trash midden (Feature 2), a partially intact prehistoric shell midden (Feature 3), an 18th century domestic artifact midden (Feature 4), and a possible 18th century domestic artifact midden (Feature 5). In total, 1,178 artifacts were recovered.

Phase II testing was carried out in 2007. 332 shovel tests were excavated as well as 9 test units of varying size. Six of the units were 91 X 91 cm (3 X 3 ft), two were 61 X 122 cm (2 X 4 ft), and one was 61 X 61 cm (2 X 2 ft). Additionally, in order to delineate the horizontal limits of features, two trenches and approximately 25 judgmental shovel tests were excavated. Unless specified, all excavated soils were dry-screened in the field using hardware cloth.

Upon completing Phase II excavations at 18CH724 it was concluded that 8 features had been identified. The cultural features included the following types: a stone-lined well (Feature 1), a brick foundation wall and associated builder’s trench (Features 2 and 3), a second brick foundation (Feature 4), an historic oyster shell midden (Feature 5), a large architectural-domestic trash pit (Feature 6), and a small, shallow domestic trash pit (Feature 8). Feature 7 was determined to be an animal or rodent burrow.

In total, 9,766 artifacts were recovered by the various recovery means. Only 13 of the objects were prehistoric in age.

Site 18CH724 was determined to be a significant archaeological resource and eligible for listing on the NRHP. It was recommended that the resource be preserved and protected from future development. It appears that development plans were altered, but should the site be threatened again, a mitigation plan is warranted.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)