Join Us for Native American Heritage Month in Anne Arundel County

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The American continent is vast and has a variety of cultures that date back thousands of years. Indigenous peoples’ histories, cultures, and heritage are evident in all areas of Anne Arundel County. Each November during Native American Heritage Month and throughout the year, Anne Arundel County, the State of Maryland, and the National Park Service (among many others) take time to honor the history and culture of America’s indigenous peoples.

Anne Arundel County has created a list of resources about the area’s Native American Heritage, which can be viewed here. In addition, County archaeologists are highlighting Native history and archaeology at the following events this November:

Archaeology Lab Tour

In Partnership with AA County Office of Equity and Human Rights

Saturday, November 4th. Four tour times:
11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, & 2:30 pm
Sign up here.

Anne Arundel County Archaeology Lab
839 Londontown Rd, Edgewater, MD

Cost: Free

Join Anne Arundel County archaeologists for a free tour of the County archaeology lab to learn how we research county history and the lives of those who came before us.  View artifacts from recent excavations, discover new educational resources, and learn how you can get involved in preserving our shared heritage. There will be a special focus on the 13,000+ years of Native American history in the area.

Online Lecture: Native American Archaeology in Anne Arundel County

Hosted by the Natural History Society of Maryland

Wednesday, November 15th
7:00-8:30 pm
Cost: $0-$5
More info and registration

Did you know that Anne Arundel County has over 1,700 registered archaeological sites? Maryland has a deep Native American history which spans at least 13,000 years. Join Drew Webster from Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section to learn what archaeology has revealed about the region’s deep Native American past and how archaeologists study it.

River Farm at Jug Bay Tour

In Partnership with AA County Office of Equity and Human Rights

Friday, November 17th. Two tour times:
10:00 – 11:30 am & 1:00-2:30 pm.
Sign up here.

Address: River Farm Road, Lothian, MD. Note: this event is not located at the Jug Bay Visitors Center. Click here for detailed directions (please read!)

Cost: Free

The Jug Bay Area of southwest Anne Arundel and southeast Prince George’s Counties is home to over 75 archaeological sites, many of which speak to the area’s 13,000+ years of Native American history. The River Farm site is located in Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, an Anne Arundel County park and nature preserve. Join county archaeologists at the River Farm Site to learn about how Native Americans have adapted to the changing environment over millennia, and what archaeology can tell us about their lives. 

Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time. Participants may not arrive late or depart early–access to the site is through a locked gate and we will need to all enter and exit together. This event is best suited for adults and teens, but all are welcome. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Hike into History at Beverly Triton Nature Park

Saturday, November 18th
3:00 pm
Register here.

Beverly Triton Nature Park
1202 Triton Beach Road
Mayo, MD

Cost: Free.

Join archaeologist Drew Webster from Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section for a journey back in time! Explore the history and archaeology of Beverly Triton Park, from 3,000-year-old Native American sites through 19th-century home sites and 20th-century beach resorts.

Evening & Weekend Volunteer Hours at the Archaeology Lab

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Beginning this September, the Anne Arundel County Archaeology Lab will have expanded volunteer hours. The Lab will be open:

  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
  • Thursdays from 1:00 to 7:00 pm
  • One Saturday a month from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (Sep. 9, Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 9).

You can check the lab schedule or sign up here. Future dates and times will be added to the same signup link. The lab is located at 839 Londontown Road in Edgewater, MD, just behind the London Town visitor’s center.

Volunteers help process artifacts by washing, labeling, sorting, and cataloging them. No experience is needed. Volunteers must register in advance. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

For further information, contact our volunteer coordinator at [email protected].

Preservation Month Event: General Stores

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This May is Maryland Preservation Month! Join us Thursday, May 18th, from 12:00 – 1:30 pm, for this exciting and insightful virtual presentation.

General stores were the heart of many communities across the county and were essential to rural life. In this online presentation, come explore stores of the past and learn about the restoration plans for the historic Corwell’s Store in Severna Park, MD.

Presenters:

  • Darian Beverungen, Senior Planner, Cultural Resources Section, Anne Arundel County, MD.
  • Richard Striner, Historian

Click here for the Zoom link.

Summer 2023 Internships Announced

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Anne Arundel County Division of Cultural Resources in conjunction with The Lost Towns Project is offering two (2) unpaid internship positions in Laboratory Methods and Collections Management. Undergraduate and Graduate students are invited to apply, and must pursue academic credit through their institution. The internship will be based in Edgewater, MD with some travel required. Applications are due by April 17th, 2023.

For full information, view our internships page.

Archaeology Month Events: April 2023

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April is Maryland Archaeology Month!

Here is how we are getting involved. Find more archaeology events across the state at marylandarcheologymonth.org.

Archaeology Lab Open House (Maryland Day Weekend)

Saturday & Sunday, April 1st & 2nd
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Free and Open to the Public

Anne Arundel County Archaeology Lab
839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD

Dig into local history at the Anne Arundel County Archaeology Lab! View a wide variety of artifacts from recent excavations across Anne Arundel County, from a 75-year-old bicycle seat to a 13,000-year-old spear point.

Try your hand at sorting artifacts, get your hands dirty at the artifact washing station, or learn how you can get involved in archaeological digs and labwork, right here in Anne Arundel County.

Discovering Archaeology Day

Saturday, April 15
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Free and Open to the Public

Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum
10505 Mackall Rd
St. Leonard, MD

Bring the entire family for a day of interactive learning and fun with archaeologists from across Maryland and Virginia, including hands-on activities for kids of all ages, archaeological site and lab tours, exhibits, games, giveaways, and cool crafts. This event will take place inside and around the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab, located on the grounds of the park.  The lab is home to over 10 million archaeological artifacts from across the state and contains one of the largest archaeological conservation labs in the nation–a must-see! There will be food and beverages for sale at the event.  Appropriate for all ages.

Hosted by Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum.

The Archaeology of Jug Bay: A Hike through History

Saturday, April 22nd
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
$10/person, Register here
Ages 12+

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD

Join archaeologist Drew Webster, from Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section to celebrate Archaeology Month with a hike from the Jug Bay Visitor’s Center to the Jug Bay River Farm. Along the hike (approximately 3-4 miles) you will learn about the many archaeological findings and research sites ranging in occupations from 13,000 years ago to the historic period. Drew will share how these archaeological sites inform us about past ways of life for people occupying the landscape of Jug Bay. The hike will include an artifact show-and-tell.

Walk for the Woods

Saturday, April 29
(Rain Day: April 30)
7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Free and Open to the Public

Back Ridge Natural Area
Farm Road
Crownsville, MD

Enjoy a day of guided hikes exploring the heart of the conserved Bacon Ridge Natural Area in Crownsville. Experts in wildlife, native plants, birds, history, archaeology, and more will be on-site and available to attendees. Plus, self-guided hike options will be offered, complete with trail maps and educational signage posted along the trails, as well as other fun educational activities.

Registration for guided hikes will open in early April 2023. The hike schedule and link to registration will be announced via email and social media and posted to www.SRLT.org.

Hosted by Scenic Rivers Land Trust.

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