Archaeology Month Events: April 2023

, , , , ,

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.

Sign up for our email newsletter to learn about upcoming events and more!

African American Inventions, Artifacts, and Stories at the Glen Burnie Library

, , , ,

We’re switching things up at the Glen Burnie Library! After the successful collaboration for Native American Heritage Month, librarians and archaeologists teamed up once again for Black History Month. The exhibit highlights the numerous contributions by black inventors, and highlights the story of the Savoy family, tenant farmers from Crownsville.

It will be up for the next few months at the Glen Burnie library at 1010 Eastway. 

Rising Sun Inn Recognized for Excellence in Historic Preservation

, , , ,

In honor of Preservation Month, Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section just installed another new historic wayside sign at the Rising Sun Inn, an 18th-century tavern standing on Generals Highway! During the installation, the Friends of the Rising Sun Inn received the County’s 2022 Preservation Stewardship Award in recognition of this organization’s tremendous efforts in restoring and maintaining this important historic structure.

Anastasia Poulos, Cultural Resources Section, presents the 2022 Preservation Stewardship Award to Kris Jenkins and Mary Fisher, officers of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Rising Sun Inn.  

This non-profit group of volunteers embodies Preservation Month’s theme of “People Saving Places.” The Friends of the Rising Sun Inn is an organization that has a long track record and has demonstrated for decades that they are capable and conscientious stewards of this historic building. Recently, they restored the Inn’s second floor space to allow increased access to the public through expanded tours and unique events that highlight local history. Their committed volunteers have helped the organization successfully maneuver the myriad challenges of the pandemic by adapting programming to include structured tickets and virtual events. They have proven to have great initiative over the years, always maintaining the highest standards in their treatment of the historic property, and continue to actively pursue innovative ways to interpret the property for the public. 

Preservation Stewardship Award for the Friends of the Rising Sun Inn

Anne Arundel County thanks all the members of the Friends of the Rising Sun Inn for their passion and commitment to this important historic landmark in Maryland. Learn more at https://www.risingsuninn.org/

Contributed by Stacy Poulos, Archaeological Sites Planner, Anne Arundel County Cultural Resources Section

Upcoming Events: April is Archaeology Month!

, , , , , , , ,

April is Maryland Archaeology Month! In celebration, here are some upcoming events hosted by the Lost Towns Project and/or Anne Arundel County Cultural Resources Section. Learn more and find events throughout the state at marylandarcheologymonth.org. This page will be updated throughout April.

April 2nd – Annapolis: Digging Up Discoveries

Hosted by Discoveries: The Library at the Mall
2250 Annapolis Mall Road
Annapolis, MD
2:00-3:00 pm

Come learn about fossils and artifacts from the experts! Make a fossil print, dig for “bones” and see real artifacts found in Maryland. Children under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

April 7th – Virtual Talk: The Archaeology of the Patuxent River

Virtual
6:00 pm

Join us for Archaeology Month with this free virtual presentation! Take a virtual journey along the Patuxent River with archaeologists from Howard, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. Learn about the various archaeological resources found throughout this watershed.

This is a FREE Virtual presentation for all ages. Please email [email protected] for the zoom link.

April 12th – Edgewater: Volunteer Orientation and Fieldwork Preview

Anne Arundel County Archaeology Lab
839 Londontown Road
Edgewater, MD
6:00-7:00 pm

Are you a new or returning archaeology volunteer, or considering volunteering with us?

Join us for a preview of spring and summer field and lab opportunities, and learn or refresh the basics of fieldwork! This is a great time to meet other volunteers and prepare for the summer season.

Plus, we will have pizza! RSVP here.

April 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, & 29
Annapolis: Whitehall Public Dig Days

Whitehall
1915 Whitehall Rd
Annapolis, MD
8:00 am – 3:00 pm each day.

Join us for excavations at historic Whitehall, a former plantation outside of Annapolis. We will be excavating an area that could yield new information about those who worked and lived on the plantation in the late 18th and 19th century and whose stories have yet to be told.

Volunteers must register here in advance and should be able to commit to an entire day (8:00-3:00). Volunteers new to fieldwork are strongly encouraged to attend the Volunteer Orientation on April 12th at 6:00 pm (see above) For more information, email Drew Webster at [email protected]

April 30 – Crownsville: Walk for the Woods

Bacon Ridge Natural Area
Farm Rd Entrance
Crownsville, MD
7:00 am – 3:00 pm

We will be leading an archaeology hike and showcasing our travelling archaeology exhibit at Scenic Rivers Land Trust’s “Walk for the Woods.” Walk for the Woods is a day of guided hikes, including bird watching, amphibian searches, history/archaeology, naturalist hikes, and educational programs. Attendees are also invited to explore the permanently protected Bacon Ridge Natural Area’s 1000+ acres of woodlands, wetlands, streams, and meadows on their own. It is always a beautiful, relaxing day in our local woods!

Experts in wildlife, native plants, birds, 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.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Bacon Ridge Natural Area in Crownsville (rain date is May 1). Access to the event will be via the Farm Road entry. Registration for guided hikes will open approximately three weeks before the event date. The hike schedule and registration link will be announced via email and social media and will be accessible via this page. This is FREE community and family event, but registration is required for guided hikes and spaces will be limited.

For a full listing of upcoming events, check out our event calendar:

Crownsville Hospital: Sewing for Dress and Comfort

, , , , , , ,

Crownsville Hospital was founded in 1911 by the State of Maryland to house and care for African Americans with mental health problems. By mid-century, it became known for being understaffed and overcrowded.

Until 1948, all staff members at the hospital were white. By 1959, African Americans made up 45% of the hospital staff, and in 1963, the hospital was integrated.

Sewing at Crownsville Cemetery. Courtesy of Dorothea McCullers

Dorothea McCullers spent 38 years working for the hospital, beginning in 1964 as a seamstress and later as the supervisor of the clothing department. She still remembers all 21 pieces that stitched together to form uniforms for the hospital employees.

Hear what she has to say at Stop 16 on Anne Arundel County’s Civil Rights Era virtual tour.

SOURCES:

Oral history interview with Dorothea McCullers conducted on May 30, 2018, by Lyndra Marshall (née Pratt), oral historian, and filmed and edited by Anthony Smoot of Anthony A. Smoot Productions.

“Tragic Chapter of Crownsville State Hospital’s Legacy.” Capital Gazette. June 5, 2013.