KCI-90-1 (18PR399)

From KCI-90-1, or 18PR399, is a Late Archaic and Late Woodland period short-term resource procurement camp near Largo in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

The site was first identified during the course of a Phase I survey conducted in 1990. Pedestrian surface survey was conducted by establishing a grid of collection units. Once the entire site area had been collected, two 50 X 100 cm formal test units were excavated in the portions of the site from which the greatest number of diagnostic artifacts were recovered. No artifacts were recovered from the formal test units and no features were encountered, but the surface reconnaissance yielded 138 prehistoric artifacts. Diagnostic artifacts included ceramics characteristic of Late Woodland Potomac Creek ware, a Late Woodland Potomac point, a likely Potomac point preform, and a Middle Woodland Rossville.

In 1995 Phase II testing was conducted in two parts. First, a systematic surface collection was again performed. Subsurface testing included excavation of a total of 12 shovel tests, and seven 1 X 1 m test units, which were placed where high concentrations of prehistoric artifacts had been recovered during the surface collection. All soil was screened through hardware mesh. A gradall was employed to strip the plowzone in areas most likely to contain subsurface features. In all, four stripped gradall trenches were opened for a total stripped area of 394 m2. All soil anomalies were drawn, photographed, bisected, screened, and soil samples were taken.

The excavation of shovel tests, test units, and subsequent stripping of the plowzone within the site indicated that cultural material is restricted to the plowzone. No prehistoric or historic features were found in subsoil contexts. The lack of features was due primarily to the intense level of deflation which appears to have occurred at 18PR399. Based on artifactual data from the plowzone, the site appears to represent Late Archaic and Late Woodland (Potomac Creek) occupations. It is hypothesized that the site served as a residence location during the fall and winter months when foraging and hunting activities were typically conducted by extended family groups. The absence of architectural features or storage facilities suggests that the duration of residence was limited.

A total of 1,288 prehistoric artifacts were recovered. Diagnostic artifacts include 3 Brewerton points, a Bare Island point, 2 Madison/Potomac points, and 69 Potomac Creek pottery sherds. Nineteen historic artifacts collected are not considered significant.

Given the absence of subsurface deposits and features, Site 18PR399 does not have the potential to yield any additional information beyond that collected during the Phase I and II investigations. The site was recommended as ineligible for listing in the State or National Registers and approval was obtained for construction, which would have further disturbed the site. The site should not be considered a significant resource.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)