Archaeology of an Eastern Shore Colonial Plantation

Archaeologists have just come out of the field after a second season of excavation at a colonial site on the eastern shore of Maryland. Although many weeks of laboratory work and analysis are ahead of them, this newly discovered site is already sharing its story!

As part of the Maryland State Highway Administration’s planning process for the replacement of the Dover Bridge in Talbot County, archaeologists searched for the remains of buildings and other historic sites within the project area. While excavating, they found a colonial house and associated structures belonging to a plantation that dates between the late 17^th to early 18^th century.  This location was likely chosen as a place to settle because of its proximity to a ferry landing on the Choptank River near the town of Easton.

What Did the Archaeologists Find?

After months of excavation archaeologists discovered an amazing assemblage of every day items that included over 13,000 faunal remains (animal bone) and 11,000 domestic, architectural, and personal artifacts.  These discoveries were associated with a variety of structures and features including cellars and pits from six buildings, two privies, a few dozen refuse pits, and over one dozen postholes. Specifically, archaeologists found the remains of bowls, jars, and other ceramics that included: Borderware, Buckley, Staffordshire slipware, tin-glazed earthenware, Westerwald, and North Devon ware.

The preliminary archaeological findings show that the kitchen held cream pots, a butter pot, milk pans, and utensils. Guests and family members drank from mugs, enjoyed cups of tea, and even bottled wine.  The tables were set with a punch bowl, plates, and platters filled with domestic and wild cuts of meat from cows, deer, ducks, and turtles.

Artifact analysis also revealed the occupants spent their leisure time playing the flute, and smoking white clay pipes from England. Additional household objects included straight pints, scissors, and a thimble----evidence of sewing and mending.

One can imagine the disappointment of the person who broke this beautiful Westerwald vessel and the delight of the archaeologist who pieced it back together.

The top of a Bellarmine jug, also called a Bartmann jug (bearded man), was found in a pit. This jug is a round-bellied, narrow necked stoneware vessel made near Cologne, Germany sometime during the 1600s. These jugs were often used to store wines, ale, oil, vinegar, or water.

North Devon gravel tempered chamber pot was only glazed on the inside to ensure the contents were not absorbed into the vessel. Archaeologists were unable to determine whether it was dropped when full or empty. 

Who Lived Here?

Perhaps the biggest question archaeologists wanted to answer was who lived here?  After hours of research they learned the Closiers, Knapps, Andersons, Carrs, Edmundsons, Stuarts, Martins, Richardsons, Walkers, and Hughletts all called this place home at some point. Furthermore, the property stayed in the hands of the daughters of each of the families.

The curious case of the wine bottle seal: Hannah Dickinson's wine bottle seal was found on the site, but she did not live on or near the property.  Through genealogy research archaeologists found Hannah was related to the Walkers, Richardsons, and Edmundsons through her daughter's marriages. 

Although the site will be impacted by the new bridge construction, archaeologists had a chance to rescue the artifacts and information from the soil. The opportunity to study this once lost home site provides us a fascinating assemblage of artifacts that will reveal information about how these early Marylanders lived on the eastern shore frontier.

Written by Heather Millis and Julie Schablitsky