Site 2, Area A3 (18PR628)

Site 18PR628 was first identified during Phase I testing of the vicinity in September of 2002. The Phase I survey examined approximately 97 acres of the (then) proposed Collington Center North Development for compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA.

Shovel testing resulted in collection of a total of 119 lithic artifacts, 11 prehistoric ceramics, and 1 brass rifle cartridge. Diagnostic artifacts included 1 Bare Island stemmed projectile point/knife, 5 Accokeek sherds and 6 Mockley. The Bare Island point, in conjunction with the presence of prehistoric ceramics, suggested the site represented multiple and/or long term occupations spanning the Late Archaic to Middle Woodland periods. Site 18PR628 was recommended for Phase II evaluation based on the site location, the presence of diagnostic materials and the level of integrity of cultural deposits.

Phase II field investigations were carried out immediately in September of 2002. The investigation was conducted in two stages. The first stage involved the excavation of a total of 118 close interval shovel tests within the existing site boundaries. Based on the results of the shovel testing, fourteen 1 X 1 m test units were excavated to investigate the nature and integrity of the cultural deposits. All excavated soils were screened through hardware cloth.

A total of 2,101 prehistoric artifacts were recovered from Site 18PR628 during Phase II investigations, including 14 diagnostic points. The diagnostic points/bifaces were a serrated Kirk side-notched point, 2 Stanley points, 3 Normanskill-like points, 1 Vosburg point, 1 Perkiomen broadspear, 2 Adena points, 2 Piscataway points, and 2 Madison points. Identifiable ceramic sherds include 25 Accokeek, 1 Selden Island, 17 Mockley , 6 Townsend, and 2 Moyaone. Two archaeological features were identified, including a pebble/cobble lens and a fire-cracked rock feature.

Data recovered during the Phase I and II investigations indicate that the prehistoric occupation of 18PR628 is associated with the Early Archaic, Middle Archaic, Late Archaic, Early Woodland, Middle Woodland, and Late Woodland periods. The site retains significant archaeological research potential in several general research areas of interest. It possesses sufficient stratigraphic integrity and quantities of diagnostic materials to distinguish discrete assemblage or activity areas, and to place them within a temporal framework. Additional work should be conducted at the site should an opportunity present itself, or if the site is threatened by development and cannot be avoided.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)