Site AA-2 (18ST677)

Site AA-2 (18ST677) has a significant mid- to late 17th-century domestic occupation and small Middle/Late Archaic period and Late Woodland period prehistoric components. It is located along a secondary drainage of McIntosh Run in Leonardtown, in St. Mary’s County, and is adjacent to 18ST676.

Archaeological evidence for human activity in the general vicinity of the site goes back to at least the Early Archaic period. Middle Archaic materials were found at a nearby site, and a few sites in the area date to the Late Archaic period and Early, Middle, and Late Woodland periods.

In the early 1740s, Abraham Barnes acquired the lands that became known as Tudor Hall Plantation, including the location of 18ST677. The site area was used for agriculture, with no known structures. Philip Key purchased the property in 1813 and it remained with his family throughout the 19th century. An 1830 map depicts a building called the “Over Seers House” in the general area, but no other structures are known nearby until the 20th century.

Phase I archaeological investigations were conducted at the site in 1996 for the proposed Tudor Hall Village housing development. Of the 480 acres that were part of the development, 271 acres were subject to Phase I study. 18ST677 was situated in the northwest quadrant of the project area, and was defined by 23 shovel test pits. Two historic period loci related were identified, one in the southern portion of the site associated with two features, the other in the northern portion and corresponding to a diffuse scatter of artifacts. One feature was a pit containing domestic and architectural debris, which appeared to have been filled in a single episode. The second feature was a pit containing lots of charcoal but relatively few architectural artifacts, and it was stratified, suggesting it was left open for a longer period of time. Excavation was halted at 88 cmbs, before the base of the feature was reached.

A small number of prehistoric artifacts were clustered along the northern boundary of the site, and were probably related to the nearby site 18ST676. No prehistoric cultural features were identified.

Phase II investigations were conducted at 18ST677 in 1997. They included 10 shovel test pits to supplement information obtained during the Phase I survey. In addition, test unit blocks covering 2x2 meters were placed over each feature located in Locus 1 during the Phase I work, while three 1x1m test units were excavated in Locus 2. Prehistoric artifacts were recovered primarily from subplowzone contexts, with 68% found in Locus 2.

During the Phase II testing, the two previously-identified features were further examined, and six additional historic features were uncovered, but not all were investigated. Among the identifiable features were a sheet midden; a broad, shallow trash pit of indeterminate size; and a large, deep, steep-sided stratified feature that was probably a cellar or trash pit. A smaller pit and a mottled feature were noted at the base of this pit. Large amounts of faunal and botanical remains were recovered from the possible cellar, and both wild and domesticated plants and animals were identified.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)