Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum owes its very existence
to archaeology. Mrs.Patterson was excited by the dozens of archaeological
sites present on her farm, and wanted to see them preserved, so
she donated the property to the State. The mission of the new park
was to explore the history of the people who have lived in this
region for the last 12,000 years.
To accomplish this, JPPM archaeologists have been busy conducting
research at the Park and elsewhere in Maryland, excavating sites
as varied as a prehistoric Native American village, a colonial mansion,
a Civil War hospital, and a 19th-century African American cabin.
The centerpiece of the archaeology program at JPPM is the Maryland
Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab), a state-of-the-art
facility for studying, preserving, and storing the artifacts of
Maryland's heritage. But our goal is to do more than just study
and preserve the past.
Our research means nothing if we don't share
our discoveries with the public. We do this through books and reports
which are for sale at the Visitor Center, public lectures, tours
of the MAC Lab and perhaps most importantly, through our
Public Archaeology Program. This program allows
volunteers to help archaeologists excavate an actual site, or to
work with artifacts in the MAC Lab. If you like to feel the past
in your hands, JPPM is the place to be! And if you just want to
know more about the history and archaeology of Maryland, you can
read about it in our large Research Library, or
talk to our staff, who are more than happy to help.
For additional
information and volunteer opportunities contact the Research
staff at 410-586-8550 or sraftery@mdp.state.md.us; for
MAC Lab tours contact Kathy Concannon at 410-586-8562 or kconcannon@mdp.state.md.us
Our research means nothing if we don't share
our discoveries with the public. We do this through books and reports
which are for sale at the Visitor Center, public lectures, tours
of the MAC Lab and perhaps most importantly, through our
Public Archaeology Program. This program allows
volunteers to help archaeologists excavate an actual site, or to
work with artifacts in the MAC Lab. If you like to feel the past
in your hands, JPPM is the place to be! And if you just want to
know more about the history and archaeology of Maryland, you can
read about it in our large Research Library, or
talk to our staff, who are more than happy to help.