PORMARC (18FR788)

John Milner Associates conducted Phase I archeological reconnaissance for the proposed parking-lot expansion at the Point of Rocks MARC station in November and December of 2001. This investigation entailed the excavation of 83 shovel test pits at 25 foot (7.6m) intervals, limited mechanical stripping of surface soils in the vicinity of a suspected privy (four backhoe trenches total), and the excavation of three 3x3' test units. A total of 2,734 artifacts was recovered. Twelve prehistoric lithics are among the total, occurring in near-surface contexts. The in situ prehistoric material is clustered in three small loci, while an isolated find derived from the fill context east of a creek. The historical material dates exclusively to the 19th and 20th centuries, likely post-Civil War. Historic disturbance of the parcels makes the potential for intact prehistoric cultural features very low. Dense concentrations of historical material were found in all but the lot containing the former St. James Catholic Church. The material from the lower landform seems to have been deposited or reworked by stream action or filling activities. Although some 19th century ceramics were recovered from the shovel tests, these artifacts were intermixed with material dating to the mid- or late-20th century, indicating that all of it is of relatively recent deposition.

The Phase II testing, conducted by John Milner Associates during 2004-2005, included shovel testing, test units, and mechanical excavation. A 25-foot (7.6m) interval grid of shovel test units was laid out across Lots 71, 72, 82, and 83. Some shovel test locations were omitted from the grid due to the existing buildings and outbuildings on Lots 71 and 72. Six main transects of shovel tests were excavated, totaling 31, only one of which was negative for artifacts. Testing also included 30 1x1m square test units and the excavation of 7 backhoe trenches to provide information on the potential for deeply buried cultural deposits in the project area. Two lots had east-west trenches to explore for features. One lot was almost completely stripped looking for possible unmarked graves.

The prehistoric artifacts were recovered from the site component areas identified in the previous investigation (Benedict et al. 2003). The prehistoric component areas have been enlarged as a result of this investigation and involve both the Archaic and Woodland cultures, specifically, a Middle Archaic Morrow Mountain point and Early Woodland Accokeek sherd were recovered. Most of the recovered prehistoric artifacts came from a mixed A horizon or fill, but some were found in an undisturbed context. No features were associated with the recovered prehistoric artifacts, and only one projectile point and one piece of ceramic were identifiable. Although a prehistoric presence was discovered here, it is unlikely any significant information can be recovered; therefore, no further investigation is warranted.

Dense concentrations of historical material were found in all but the lot containing the former St. James Catholic Church. Preliminary documentary research on the former church property indicated that a cemetery was never associated with the church property, but local residents provided information that led to the discovery of four grave shafts on the north lot of the former church's property. Additional research found strong circumstantial evidence on the identity of the four individuals who were buried in the late 1890s. They were excavated and reburied at St. Paul's Episcopal Church at the request of relatives.

The project area contains four structures that were constructed in the late 19th century. St. James Catholic Church is in a highly deteriorated state, and the other three houses have been greatly modified. The land around the structures has been modified and disturbed by landscaping, plowing, tilling, and construction, but some features have remained at the subsoil level. Although features were found in the subsoil, the artifacts they contain are in a mixed context thus providing no relative dating for those features before the late 20th century. A buried A horizon that dated to the late 19th century was present in most of the test units. Analysis of the feature and A horizon artifacts was necessary to identify site formation processes. While there is no significant information on the earlier occupations, information on late 19th century consumption and disposal patterns was obtained. It is unlikely that any significant historical information can be obtained within the project area, and no further investigation is warranted.

The historic context for the historic component was a late 19th through late 20th century small transportation town. It was on the C&O Canal and the B&O Railroad and on the only bridge across the Potomac in the area. All the early residents of the site worked on the railroad, as did some of the later residents.

The archeological resources on the site included yard surfaces and shaft features. As discussed above, most of the yard surfaces lacked integrity. Soil had been added to the surface of the yards and it was not clear when this had occurred, although it seems as if it probably happened in the latter part of the 20th century as flooding increased. Thus, it is not clear if the artifacts in the later 20th-century occupations were brought in or deposited by the families who were living in the houses. Additionally, their primary deposition appears to have been after World War II to the present. As such they do not meet the 50-year consideration of the National Register criteria considerations.

The late 19th and early 20th-century yard surfaces were best preserved on Property 1. Artifact density was low for the early surface, ranging from three to nine artifacts per square foot. The low density of artifacts in the yard surfaces suggest they were not the primary trash disposal areas and would limit the questions that could be addressed. Therefore the yard surfaces would not be able to satisfy Criterion D because of the limited number of artifacts or, in the case of the later surface, the integrity of association.

The majority of the shaft features seem to be primarily from the most recent occupation of the houses dating probably from after World War II and continuing until the time the owners sold to MTA. While some of these deposits may be older than 50 years of age, most are later than that. The questions associated with materials of this age are not generally considered significant unless they have exceptional significance, and these properties do not meet that criteria consideration for the National Register.

It is unlikely that any significant historical information can be obtained within the project area, and no further investigation is warranted.

The four graves found on the northwest corner of the St. James Roman Catholic Church property were exhumed and reburied, after infield examination by physical anthropologist Dana Kollmann, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Point of Rocks. Few physical remains were preserved. However, documents suggest they were an older adult male Union Civil War veteran, an adolescent boy, and two young children, a boy and a girl who died in the 1890s. They were reburied in St. Paul's Episcopal Church graveyard in Point of Rocks.

(Edited from archeological site survey form, Maryland Historical Trust)