Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum

The 2009 program begins May 12 and runs through July 4. Fieldwork takes place Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10:00-3:00. Volunteers can help in the lab on Tuesday and Thursday, and are welcome throughout the year. Please contact Ed Chaney at 410-586-8554 (echaney@mdp.state.md.us) to schedule a time. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

In 1996, JPPM began offering its Public Archaeology Program. Each summer, volunteers are given the opportunity to assist Park archaeologists in the excavation of actual sites. The public is invited to join us to help excavate or screen for artifacts, or to just watch the work in progress. During the rest of the year, there are opportunities to work in the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab, or to participate in occasional weekend digs. Lab experiences include washing, labeling, counting, and identifying artifacts, assisting in their conservation, or entering data into a computer.

Initially, the Public Archaeology Program focused on King's Reach Quarter, a colonial house site where an unusual building erected on closely-spaced posts was uncovered. In 2000, we began excavations at the Sukeek's Cabin Site, which contains ruins of a 19th century house once occupied by African-Americans. Working with members of the Gross family, descendants of the cabin's original inhabitants, we carefully excavated this pristine site, looking for the traces of past life there.

…this Deponent now stands where there was the appearance of an old Ditch [where] Mr. Walter Smiths Pasture fence formerly went… Deposition of Benjamin Mackall, 1772

…this Deponent now standing at a place where there is some appearance of an Old Building and a Old Well…[that] was the property of the Plaintiffs great Grandfather... Deposition of Roger Johnson, 1773

In 2002, we moved our efforts to the area that formed the heart of the Smith plantation; during the first half of the 18th century. Richard Smith Jr., a militia captain and Surveyor General for the colony, built a house here in the early 1700s, which was later occupied by his son Walter Smith, a delegate to the Maryland Assembly. Our investigations are aided by a plat of the plantation that was drawn in the 1770s for a court case. The plat shows the locations of a number of buildings on the property. In addition, depositions taken during the case reveal other landscape features, such as fences and fields. The plat tells us that the area we are investigating contained the plantation owner's house, his storehouse and a detached kitchen, a quarter for enslaved workers, and barns. We also have detailed probate inventories taken in 1715 and 1749, which reveal the contents of each room in the main house. Using this historical information, the Public Archaeology Program is locating the buildings and will use them to learn more about life in Calvert County in the 1700s.

…ye Dwelling House wherin the Plaintiff's Grandfather lived; on ye Gable end of which is Set, in Brick ye following Figures…1711. Information from the 1773 Plat key, giving the year Richard Smith, Jr. built his house.

1773 plat of the
area that became
Jefferson Patterson Park

Enlargement of Point Area with buildings captioned

Plat detail showing
area where Public
Archeology will take place

Excerpts from Richard Smith's 1715 Inventory and Walter Smith's 1749 Inventory.

Richard Smith 1715 Inventory

In the Porch Chamber
1 Chest of Drawers
1 Table
4 old Chairs
A Small Looking Glass
A Picture
In the Parlour Chamber
A feather bed and Furniture
1 Cupboard
1 Chest
5 old Chairs
One Looking Glass
In the Hall Chamber
One old Flock bed and Furniture
One old Feather bed and Furniture
One old Chest of Drawers
Two old Trunks and one Chest
4 old Chairs
2 old pictures

Walter Smith 1749 Inventory

Porch Chamber
2 feather bed and furniture
1 Table Looking Glass & Chair
Parlor Chamber
1 feather bed and furniture
1 ditto very old
6 Chairs 1 Table and Looking Glass
Plank Hall Chamber
3 feather beds and furniture
3 Chests Drawers 5 Chests
6 Chairs 1 Table and 1 Box

Below are some artifacts that were unearthed at the current Public Archaeology site:

(Click each image to veiw a larger image.)

X-ray of fireback found at site showing an eagle motif decoration

Indian artifacts found with
the fireback in a trash pit

Funding for the 2009 JPPM Public Archaeology Program has been provided by the Marpat Foundation and by an anonymous donation. Past sponsors include the Maryland Humanities Council, the Marpat Foundation, the Calvert County Board of Commissioners, Baltimore Gas & Electric Company, Black and Decker Corporation, the Eugene Chaney Foundation, and the Friends of Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, Inc.

	MAC Lab \|\| Public Archaeology \|\| Current Research \|\| Research Library
	For additional information and volunteer opportunities contact Ed Chaney at 410-586-8554 or echaney@mdp.state.md.us