Archaeological Collections in Maryland
Welcome to the Collections Finding Aids of the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab). These finding aids have been created to introduce you to some of the important archaeological collections curated at the MAC Lab. These collections represent archaeological sites uncovered from western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, and dating from c. 10,000 B.C. to the mid-20th century. Artifacts from all of the collections described here have been cataloged or checked by MAC Lab staff, and the artifact descriptions, along with scanned images of most of the project records, photographs, and reports, have been entered into a publicly-accessible computer database.
One of the MAC Lab’s most important goals is to make the archaeological collections in its custody accessible to scholars, museum curators, educators, students, and the interested public. We hope these descriptions help you to learn more about these collections and their research and educational potential. We invite you to contact us for more information about collections of interest to you. We also welcome you to visit us to study these materials on-site. We have a special Visiting Researcher Room for those wishing to undertake more detailed examination of archaeological materials found in these collections.
Information contained in these collection descriptions can be accessed in several ways. Each site’s approximate location in Maryland is depicted on a map: click on a site’s name to learn more about the materials recovered there. Collections can also be searched by site number, county,
Each collection description consists of the following information:
- An introduction to the archaeological site from which the collection derives;
- A history of the archaeological investigations conducted at the site;
- A brief descriptive summary of the artifacts recovered;
- A brief descriptive summary of the paper records and photographs associated with the site;
- Published references to the site;
- Selected artifact photographs; and
- An overall site map.
In addition, a searchable on-line database of digitized records, photos, and artifacts is included with each site's finding aid.
These collection descriptions were produced as part of two projects: Developing a Computerized Catalog for the State of Maryland’s Archaeological Collections, undertaken by the MAC Lab between 2001 and 2003, and Developing a Records Catalog Database for the State of Maryland’s Archaeological Collections, undertaken between 2005 and 2007. Both projects were funded by generous grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (www.neh.gov), the Maryland Historical Trust (www.mht.maryland.gov), the Maryland State Highway Administration (www.roads.maryland.gov), and the Academy of Natural Science’s Estuarine Research Center (www.ansp.org).
The MAC Lab would like to acknowledge the important assistance provided by Dr. Charles Kolb and Dr. Joseph Herring of the Division of Preservation and Access at the National Endowment for the Humanities. We are also especially grateful to Robert Gallagher of the Academy of Natural Science’s Estuarine Research Center for his support of this project. Finally, we acknowledge the support of Mary F. Barse, Carol Ebright, Mary Keller, and Don Sparklin of the Maryland State Highway Administration.
Dr. Mary C. Beaudry, Dr. Christine Jirikowic, Dr. Worthy Martin, and Dr. Robert Wall graciously served as project consultants, assisting staff with the identification of Native American artifacts and evaluating the database created for the project.
At the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, Denise America, Norma J. Burke, Katherine J. Dinnel, Laura J. Galke, Gareth McNair-Lewis, Rebecca J. Morehouse, Ronald G. Orr, Betty Seifert, Michael A. Smolek, and Howard Wellman were all involved in the development, implementation, and completion of the project. Sharon Raftery skillfully undertook the complicated task of developing and maintaining the project's website, a job that essentially has no end. At the Maryland Historical Trust, Wayne E. Clark, Miriam Hensley, Betty Hobgood, Carol Walker, Evie Cohen, and Ruth Scheler also contributed to the project’s success.
The development of the searchable, on-line records database was the result of the extraordinary efforts of Greg Brown, an independent consultant on the project. He worked tirelessly to create a user-friendly on-line tool. Greg built upon the database developed by Faisel Maniar of the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) (planning.maryland.gov/). Ted Cozmo, Doug Lyford, and David Geeraerts of MDP played invaluable and essential roles in guiding the digital records project through all stages of its growth, exhibiting great patience with the project's archaeological staff.
We would like to especially thank the two excellent project supervisors, Katherine Lee Priddy and Lisa Guerre, and their hard-working and dedicated staff: Karen Early, Jamie Ferguson, Susan Hutchins, Jennifer Kehs, Kristy Kehs, Paula Mask, Michael Nasirov, Benjamin Porter, Amy Tedore, Kristen Wenger, and Benjamin Wood. They maintained their cheerfulness throughout the very long, and at times tiresome, process of creating this online resource.
Finally, we wish to acknowledge the continuing support for the MAC Lab and its programs by Maryland Historical Trust Director J. Rodney Little.
Any questions, suggestions, or comments about the project or the collections herein described may be emailed to: patricia.samford@maryland.gov
- Julia A. King, Project Director
- Patricia Samford, MAC Lab Director
- Edward Chaney, MAC Lab Deputy Director
- Sharon Raftery, Finding Aids Web Page Designer
- Gregory J. Brown, Database Web Page Designer
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Thank
you for visiting our web site. If you have any questions, comments, or new information to share, please contact us at patricia.samford@maryland.gov. |
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Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab |
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