TRC-MQ-10 (18PR1081)

This site, a prehistoric short-term camp with a locus representing a lithic procurement and production activity area, was identified by TRC Environmental Corporation in 2014 during the Phase I survey of the Millville Quarry property. Site 18PR1081 is a high-density prehistoric artifact concentration recorded in a wooded area, measuring approximately 175-x-95 m and is situated on a low terrace overlooking Lake Ruth and Burch Branch.

A typical soil profile recorded in Survey Area 2 consisted of a very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loam overlying a brown (10YR 4/3) silt loam overlying a sterile subsoil horizon of yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sandy loam and brown (10YR 4/3) silt loam over a yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) silt clay loam sub soil. In total, 34 positive shovel test pits and one positive surface collection yielded a total of 182 lithic artifacts of quartz, chert, quartzite, jasper, sandstone and granite in the Phase I survey. The assemblage represents a Late Archaic to Early Woodland occupation and is at least partially intact based on preliminary findings from the Phase I survey. Further study was recommended.

Phase II testing conducted by TRC in April of 2014 and consisted of 45 shovel test pits at 10m intervals and 10 1x1m excavation units. Artifact analysis indicated the sites represent Early Archaic through Early Woodland lithic procurement and processing areas. The predominance of Archaic-period diagnostic artifacts in the site sample suggests the site was primarily utilized throughout the Archaic period, with limited use continuing into the Early Woodland period. Raw materials represented in the site samples show a strong preference for locally available quartz and quartzite cobbles which are found in abundance throughout the local area. Exotic raw materials are also present, but in much smaller quantities and are not concentrated in any identified activity areas. The majority of the lithic assemblage was produced from locally available material occurring in pebble forms resulting in smaller biface reduction debitage and small finished tools.

Although prehistoric artifacts were recovered from the sub-plowzone, the majority were found within the upper 20 cm of subsoil horizons. No subsurface features, or evidence of deeply buried cultural deposits were recorded. Stratigraphic analysis suggests that the sub-plowzone artifact distribution is a result of weak soil development and bioturbation. The absence of datable features also limits research into environmental adaptation over time. A comparative analysis to other Archaic period sites found in the Piscataway and Potomac River drainages (i.e. 18CH358 and 18AN489) found that the artifact assemblage at 18PR1081 is consistent with the findings of other sites in the vicinity during this time period, specifically with regard to the strong preference for locally sourced quartz and quartzite.

In summary, prehistoric artifacts recovered at 18PR1081 corresponds to lithic raw material procurement and processing activity areas dating from the Early Archaic through the Early Woodland periods. The site was likely used as a seasonal quarry using the abundant quartz and quartzite surface cobbles present in the central drainage. No subsurface features or deeply buried cultural deposits were recorded during Phase I and II investigations. Due to the absence of subsurface features and poor site integrity, the sites are considered to have limited research value and are not recommended for further study or for inclusion in the NRHP.

In total, 723 artifacts were recovered during Phase II investigation of site 18PR1081. Prehistoric artifacts (debitage, tools, and FCR) comprise more than 98 percent of the total sample while organic artifacts, all charcoal found within flotation samples, account for less than two percent.

The lithic sample contains debitage (n=574), FCR (n=137), and tools (n=21). Debitage types appear to span all stages of the lithic reduction process with higher percentages of early stage reduction of shatter and early reduction flakes containing cortex; however, later stage biface reduction and thinning flakes do occur in higher percentages compared to site 18PR1079, albeit in smaller percentages overall. As with the findings of site 18PR1079 on the opposite side of Burch Branch, identifiable raw material shows a strong preference of quartz and quartzite with smaller percentages of more exotic raw materials including chert, rhyolite, jasper, and siltstone.

Of the 21 stone tools recovered, only a few display diagnostic elements. This includes one possible Kirk or Kirk-variant type that contains serration along one side which dates to the Early to Middle Archaic periods, and one quartz point featuring side-notching tentatively identified as Otter Creek that dates to the Middle to Late Archaic periods. Three points are a teardrop shape and have been tentatively identified as Piscataway which date to the Late Archaic/Early Woodland Transitional period. The remaining non-diagnostic tools include one drill base, one uniface, one mid-stage biface, three flake blanks, one core fragment, and seven early-stage bifaces. All the stone tools recovered within the site are either quartz or quartzite.

Flotation samples were taken and processed from both plowzone and sub-plowzone contexts. The light fraction artifacts include 12 pieces of charcoal. The heavy fraction contained 87 artifacts, all of which are lithic debitage fragments too small to identify; it is possible that several pieces represent pressure flake micro-debitage.

Results of stratigraphic analysis mimics the findings of site 18PR1079: that of primarily plowzone deposits with a smaller deposition of artifacts in subsoil contexts. In total, 602 artifacts were recovered from the Stratum I A horizon (83.2 percent), and 120 artifacts from the Stratum II B horizon (16.6 percent). Of the 602 artifacts from the A horizon, all are prehistoric with the exception of five organic artifacts (<1 percent). Of the 120 artifacts recovered from the B horizon, seven are organic (6 percent) while the remainder are prehistoric. All artifacts recovered in subsoil horizons were recovered from the first 20-cm of subsoil, and no artifacts were recovered below 43 cm below the ground surface.

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