O’Barr Site (18PR317)

The O’Barr site, 18PR317, is a short-term resource procurement camp utilized in both the Early and Late Woodland periods. The site is located north of Bowie, adjacent to a small unnamed drainage a short distance from the tidal marshes of the Patuxent River floodplain.

The O’Barr site was discovered during a Phase I reconnaissance survey conducted in August of 1987. The project area was divided into 7 transects based on modern land-use patterns and topographic features. Low surface visibility required shovel test pitting throughout the project area. Site 18PR317 was identified by the excavation of 4 STPs, 3 of which were positive for prehistoric artifacts. Sixteen quartz flakes were recovered from these 3 shovel tests. Additional artifacts, both prehistoric and historic, were recovered from the surface as well. The full Phase I assemblage from O’Barr included 1 quartz biface fragment, 20 quartz flakes, 7 whiteware sherds, 1 piece of molded glass, and 6 coal fragments.

Researchers returned to the site in the fall of 1987 to conduct the Phase II work, which entailed the excavation of additional shovel tests, surface collection, and excavation of test units. A total of 53 STPs were excavated on the 15 m grid and an additional 64 shovel tests were subsequently excavated on the 7.5 m interval. Five 1 X 1 m test excavation units were opened in the areas of high prehistoric artifact density. All soil was screened through hardware mesh, and two walls were profiled in each unit.

The Phase II work revealed a general low-density prehistoric artifact scatter across the site. Nearly all of the site area, including the wooded portion, was plowed at one time. Artifacts recovered from these areas were confined to the plowzone, or plowzone/subsoil interface. No intact prehistoric deposits and no cultural features were found.

A total of 530 prehistoric artifacts were recovered during the Phase II excavations. Diagnostic projectile points include a Vernon point, a possible serrated Kirk point, a Bare Island, and a Late Woodland triangular point. Identifiable pottery types include 2 Marcey Creek sherds, 2 Accokeek sherds, and 1 Rappahannock (Townsend) sherd.

Phase II test excavations at the O’Barr site revealed a small prehistoric campsite dating largely to the Early Woodland subperiod, but also containing Late Woodland remains, and possibly even a late Early Archaic component. Hunting, butchering, and hide processing activities are suggested by the flaked stone tool assemblage. Small numbers of very small sherds suggest food preparation activities, but overall short periods of occupation. Lack of cultural features, such as storage pits, also suggests transient occupation.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)