6 research outputs found
Limited Excavations at the Gassaway-Feldmeyer House, 18AP49, 194 Prince George Street, Annapolis, Maryland
194 Prince George Street, known as the Gassaway-Feldmeyer house, was excavated in
April of 1988. The property, in residential use from the 19th century, is owned by Historic Annapolis Foundation. Excavators found evidence of some intact 19th century levels and no trace of the 18th century. Unfortunately, parts of the site were disturbed by 20th century gardening activities. Further excavation is recommended since the Gassaway-Feldmeyer house may provide valuable information about residences in the 19th century
Archaeological Testing at the John Brice II (Jennings-Brice) House, 18AP53, 195 Prince George Street, Annapolis, Maryland
In the fall of 1989, emergency excavation was undertaken in conjunction with restoration work at the John Brice II (Jennings-Brice) House, 18AP53. The exact date of construction for this brick home is problematic, and it was hoped that archaeological investigation could provide conclusive evidence to firmly establish the structure's date of construction. Excavation of one 5 X 5 ft. unit revealed the presence of 10 separate soil layers and four features of note, described in detail below. Unfortunately, no builders trench or similar feature by which we might date the house's construction was recovered. Future plans and possibilities for excavation at the property are outlined with the hopes of performing subsequent work at this rich site. We anticipate a focus on the arrangement and changes in use of the houselot, amassing evidence to support the presence of a vernacular garden on the property during the 18th century, as well as researching refuse disposal patterns, and clues to changing lifeways through the 18th century
Continuity and Change on an Urban Houselot: Archaeological Excavation at the 22 West Street Backlot (18AP51) of the Annapolis National Historic District, Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Intensive archaeological investigation was undertaken on an urban backlot in Annapolis, Maryland. Fieldwork was conducted on behalf of Historic Annapolis Foundation for the property's owners, King and Cornwall, Inc. Supplemental documentary research, an evaluation of existing conditions on the property, and below-ground excavation of a 35 X 70 ft. urban backlot were conducted. While the project was not a Section 106 compliance effort, the field methods and rationale for the site's investigation are comparable to those of standard Phase II site evaluations. Historical documentation attested to the fact that the 22 West Street Backlot, located
along the western most edge of the Historic District of Annapolis, Maryland, had seen
development and occupation since the first quarter of the eighteenth century. A substantial brick
structure was known to have occupied the property in a series of altered forms for much of that
period. This structure served a variety of purposes over time: a private residence in the
eighteenth century, a boarding house in the nineteenth century (known as the National Hotel),
a duplex in the early twentieth century, half of which remained in use until the structure was
entirely razed in the 1970s after destruction by fire.
Recovery and analysis of site formation processes (i.e., both cultural and natural
transformations of the buried remains) indicated that sections of the site were disturbed to a
depth of six feet. In contrast to what initially seemed a poor prognosis for site integrity, other
areas of the backlot revealed numerous intact historical features and deposits. Structural remains
from the dwelling and its associated outbuildings, additions, and attendant trash deposits were
recovered.
What was initiated as a program of limited testing evolved into a larger-scale undertaking
that made use of largely hand-excavated units in conjunction with machine-assisted stripping of
areas demonstrated to contain from four to six-foot deep sterile layers of fill. The current
investigations provided a window into a portion of the city and period in its history not
documented archaeologically. Moreover, this project provided valuable insight into the
archaeology of the homelot within a lightly industrialized, urban context. Evidence was
recovered of shifts in the layout and arrangement of the houselot as well as changing relations
between individuals and the workplace--all within an urban context--an issue defined elsewhere
in the archaeological literature as a significant one.
No further investigations are recommended for the site, however, further analysis and
interpretation of materials recovered are ongoing. In the event that the site were to undergo
development, monitoring of any construction activity is recommended
Results of the 1985 Excavations at Shiplap House (18AP30), 18 Pinkney Street, Annapolis, Maryland
The Shiplap House, 18AP30, located at 18 Pinkney Street, Annapolis, Maryland, was built ca. 1716. Located within the Historic District of Annapolis, Maryland (see Figures 2, 3, & 4 for site location within the Annapolis Historic District), the Shiplap House lies in immediate proximity to features of local and national importance. Due to its potential as a significant archaeological site, the Shiplap property was selected as one of the locations to be investigated during the 1985 summer Fieldschool in Urban Archaeology, a course offerred by the University of Maryland, College Park, under the direction of Dr. Mark P. Leone
Earth Patterns: Essays in Landscape Archaeology. William M. Kelso and Rachel Most, editors. University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1990. ix + 310 pp., figures, tables, references, index. $30.00 (cloth).
A Cultural Resource Survey of the College Creek Area, Annapolis, Maryland (18AP46)
The following report describes a phase I survey of the College Creek area. In this area, a total of 177 shovel tests completed. The survey revealed a shell midden, tentatively identified as belonging to the Woodland phase. In addition, disturbances caused by a railroad and concrete factory were noted. Further excavation is needed to ascertain the complete nature of the College Creek site, 18AP46