ARCHAEOLOGY WEEKEND at HSMC
Get down and dirty with Maryland history at Tidewater Archaeology Weekend, July 24 and 25 at Historic St. Mary’s City. Discover what it’s like to be an archaeologist at one of the nation’s most beautiful, and best preserved, colonial archaeology sites.
Visitors can tour an archaeology site, discover how archaeologists read stains in the soil, and work alongside the pros as they recover artifacts, pieces of Maryland’s past, by screening excavated soil. An exhibit of artifacts recovered from the site will be on display. Those who follow the chief archaeologist’s blog about this year’s findings can see the pieces they’ve read about.
Sign up for a tour of the Archaeology Laboratory when you arrive at the Visitor Center (18751 Hogaboom Lane), and discover what happens to artifacts after they are recovered. This is the only time the lab is open to the public and space is limited. Tours begin at 11:00, 1:00, 2:30, or 4:00.
At 2 p.m., meet HSMC’s director of research at the Gazebo for a one-hour walking tour. Find out how Historic St. Mary’s City has reconstructed buildings that stood some 375 years ago using scant clues assembled by archaeologists and historians.
This summer’s excavations focus on the back yard of the Calvert House, built by Maryland’s first governor, Leonard Calvert, in the first few years of the settlement. The Calvert House served as the first state house and the largest inn in St. Mary’s. In 1645, the house was the headquarters for a rebellion against Lord Baltimore and a fort, named “Mr. Pope’s Fort,” was built around it. When Governor Calvert retook the colony in 1646, he regained the house and filled in the fort ditch. Calvert died in the house in 1647.
Excavations will be open from
For more information about the museum, archaeology, or this event call 240-895-4990 or 800-SMC-1634.
