PD #1 Site (18PR321)

The PD #1 Site (18PR321) is the remains of a domestic occupation dating from the late 17th to mid-18th centuries, as well as several occupational loci dating from the Early Archaic to Late Woodland prehistoric time periods. It is located within the Patuxent River Natural Resources Management Area in southern Prince George’s County, Maryland. A standing barn and an access road are present on a portion of the site.

The site was first identified during a reconnaissance archaeological survey of the middle portion of the Patuxent River conducted by the Maryland Geological Survey in early 1988.

Researchers returned to Site 18PR321 in June of 1988 to conduct Phase II testing through controlled surface collection, and excavation of 53 shovel test pits and 18 1x1 meter test units. All STP soils were screened through hardware cloth. Only the soil from the southwest quadrant of each test unit was screened through hardware cloth.

Stratigraphic context at 18PR321 is poor. Most artifacts recovered from the 53 STPs and 18 test units were confined to the plowzone. Both prehistoric and historic artifacts were encountered in the plowzone deposits. A total of 2,380 historic artifacts were recovered including: 4 activity items, 116 architectural objects, 2 clothing items, 2,064 kitchen-related artifacts, 1 personal item, 168 tobacco-related artifacts, 1 arms object, and 24 miscellaneous objects. The quantities of bottle glass and pipe fragments suggest that the site may have served some sort of public function. Though no records have been found to indicate use of the site as a river landing in the 17th and 18th centuries, it is documented as such in the 19th century.

The prehistoric assemblage was comprised of 393 objects. Diagnostic lithic artifacts were a rhyolite Selby Bay point, jasper Kirk corner-notched point, a quartz Halifax point, and a quartz Savannah River point. Diagnostic ceramics were 1 Accokeek sherd, and 2 Potomac Creek sherds, while the remainder were shell-tempered but otherwise unidentifiable. Four distinct artifact clusters were noted in the field, despite a general scatter of lithics across the entire site.

The archaeological investigation in the northern portion of 18PR321 revealed the presence of a historic component dating primarily from the late 17th to mid-18th centuries. The historic occupation is interpreted as a rural domestic occupation with perhaps some public use related to the river landing location the site occupies. The prehistoric component is recognized by at least four distinct clusters or occupational loci within the overall artifact scatter at 18PR321. The time span of occupation at the site is long, dating from the Early Archaic to Late Woodland periods, with site function interpreted as resource procurement locales. All of the artifacts, both prehistoric and historic, were recovered from a disturbed context and no evidence was recovered from excavation units or shovel test pits to indicate the possibility of undisturbed deposits below the plow zone.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)