Bealle Hill Site (18PR290)

The Bealle Hill Site (18PR290) is an Early Archaic and Early and Late Woodland short-term resource procurement and rock quarrying site near Accokeek in rural Prince George’s County, Maryland. A 19th-20th century farmstead ruin and associated historic scatter are also present.

The site was first identified in 1985 during the course of a Phase I survey for several alternates of MD Route 228. Field methods during the Phase I work included a “windshield survey” of the entire project area followed by pedestrian survey of selected tracts. In surface-obscured areas, shovel test pits (STPs) were excavated into the subsoil. All excavated soil matrix was examined by hand to locate artifacts. The 84 artifacts encountered in the vicinity of 18PR290 were all prehistoric in age. Based on the Phase I work, 18PR290 was recommended for Phase II testing unless the site could be avoided.

No additional work was conducted at 18PR290 until 2004 when a Phase IA/Phase 1B survey was carried out in preparation for the construction of a new housing development. The findings of this survey resulted in the extension of the site approximately 600 meters northwest from its original location and the inclusion of multiple components, both historic and prehistoric, as well as three historic structures and a possible historic cemetery. The 2004 Phase I research team recommended that the project move to a Phase II level of research primarily focused on the prehistoric component of the Bealle Hill site.

Due to its size the site was divided into two main sections; Area A, and Area B. Area B was further subdivided into distinct locales; B1, B2, and B3.

Two close-interval grids were established on the site, one in Area A and one in Area B1 and shovel tests were excavated at 5-meter intervals on the respective grids. Shovel tests were excavated at 10 m intervals elsewhere. All manually excavated soil was passed through hardware cloth. Thirteen 1 X 1m test units were also excavated; 11 in Area A, and 2 in Area B1.

Cultural material was recovered from Areas A, B1, and B3 and produced an assemblage of 2,739 prehistoric lithic artifacts, 5 prehistoric ceramic sherds, and 897 historic artifacts. No cultural materials were identified within STPSs or on the surface of Area B2. The artifacts recovered from Area A revealed a substantial assemblage comprising 2,305 prehistoric lithic artifacts and 35 historic artifacts. The assemblage recovered from Area B was more ephemeral in nature, containing at least 232 prehistoric lithic artifacts, five ceramic sherds, and 24 historic artifacts.

A small focused, ground penetrating radar survey was also undertaken in an attempt to locate a historic cemetery that may be within the boundaries of the Bealle Hill Site. Two anomalies were detected, aligned in an east-west direction and measuring 3 meters in length.

The Bealle Hill Site represents at least three separate prehistoric occupations. Area A most likely dates to the Archaic Period but also exhibits a distinct 20th century component. Area B most likely dates to the Early Woodland Period and also encompasses the possible historic cemetery. Portions of the site should be considered archaeologically significant.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)