Roberts Site (18CV350)

The Roberts Site (18CV350), is the remains of what appears to be an 18th -entury animal pen with evidence of one or two badly degraded domestic components associated. The site is located on the outskirts of Prince Frederick, Calvert County, Maryland.

What is known about the site is that since the late 19th century, the 26 acre parcel within which 18CV350 lies has been owned by the Roberts family. Prior to that, from at least 1884 – 1896, it was owned by the Buckmasters. Its ownership during the rest of the 19th century is less certain, but members of the Buckmaster family were involved in at least two prior transactions involving the parcel of uncertain date. The 26 acre tract was originally part of two larger parcels, the “Borders Enlarged” tract and the “Chance” tract. Surviving records indicate that Borders Enlarged was owned by the Skinner family as early as 1704 until after 1810. A wine bottle with a seal found during excavations of an 18th-century feature at the Roberts site was marked with the initials I*S. Thus, the parcel on which 18CV350 was likely that inherited by James or Joseph Skinner. Little else is known about the Skinner family.

The site was first identified in 1995 during a Phase I survey for proposed improvements to MD Highway 2/4. The 1995 Phase I survey consisted of the excavation of 924 shovel test pits, 13 of which were within the confines of what would eventually be identified at 18CV350. The positive shovel tests within 18CV350 revealed the presence of an 18th-century artifact scatter. Phase II work was conducted from 2003-2005, followed by Phase III data recovery.

The 2003-2005 fieldwork began with a general surface reconnaissance. Additional shovel tests were excavated, as well as five 5 X 5 ft. test units, along with one 2.5 X 2.5 ft. test square. Excavation of the Phase II test units revealed a generally low artifact density. The artifacts clearly identified a colonial 18th-century occupation. In addition, one of the test units in the southern portion of the site revealed part of an 18th-century feature. Subsequent sampling with a split-spoon auger indicated a much larger features or cluster of overlapping features. Based on these findings, the fieldwork moved forward as a Phase III data recovery project. To expose features and reveal their extent, 0.6 acres, of plowzone was stripped from the site using a Gradall, followed by feature excavation.

The stripping revealed a fenced enclosure measuring 90 ft. on each side and comprised of 37 paired postholes and postmolds, with a probable gate opening on the west side. Presumably the posts supported horizontal pole or plank railings. A fifth line of 10 postholes and molds was also uncovered, as were four largely truncated postholes paralleling, and just south of, the south fenceline. These four truncated postholes all contained burned daub inclusions, raising the possibility that they may have formed part of a chimney bay for an earthfast house. Within the enclosure were three large features: a rectangular pit in the northeast corner, a squarish feature in the northwest corner, and a very large ovoid feature near the southwest corner. The rectangular feature in the northeast corner of the enclosure yielded no artifacts and only sand in the portion sampled. The squarish feature in the northwest corner was filled with brick, charcoal, oyster shell, bone, and other artifacts, including a 1719 two-Reale piece. The feature appeared to be a root cellar, but no structural postholes were within a 17 ft. radius of its center (i.e. no evidence of an overlying structure). The ovoid feature was difficult to interpret. It was filled only with silt loam, charcoal, and a few artifacts and bones. It was postulated that this feature and the sand-filled feature in the northeast corner of the enclosure were related to animal husbandry in some way.

Flotation analysis was conducted at 18CV350. The assemblage included wood charcoal samples from a number of common species, native plant seeds, and cultivated species. The faunal assemblage recovered through flotation included oyster and mussel shell, cod, catfish, spot fish, white perch, rock fish, and black drum in addition to other faunal remains.

Historic artifacts encountered during the 2003-2005 excavations at 18CV350 included 9 activity items, 1,017 architectural artifacts, 27 clothing items, 6 furniture artifacts, 766 kitchen-related artifacts, 8 personal items, 185 tobacco-related artifacts, and 101 miscellaneous objects. All of the recovered material, with the exception of some late 20th-century artifacts in the plowzone, appears to date to the 18th century. Moreover, no pearlware and only a handful of creamware sherds were recovered. The British Brown, Westerwald, and white salt-glazed stonewares all point to the 18th century, probably pre-Revolutionary War, and the tobacco pipe data support a second quarter of the 18th century date.

The significant historic component at the Roberts site, in short, is an animal pen with at least one, and possibly two, features that may have been related to the care of livestock, as well as a fifth fenceline that may have been used to confine/direct animals to areas for common animal husbandry activities such as branding (with irons or by notching ears), gelding, or shearing. There is evidence of at least two earthfast houses, although that evidence was much degraded by plowing and erosion. The domestic refuse in two of the features appears to be redeposited secondary refuse. Little else can be said. The site-type is so unique that it is difficult to find similar sites in the region for comparative purposes.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)