Archaeological Investigatons at Susquehanna: a 19th Century Farm Complex Aboard Patuxent River Naval Air Station, St. Mary's County, Maryland
Creators: name: King, Julia A.
Publisher: name: Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum
Year: 1989
Subjects: subject: United States of America (Country)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/384/united-states-of-america-country
subject: Western Shore
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/46416/western-shore
subject: Harper Creek
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/46496/harper-creek
subject: Coastal Plain
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/77743/coastal-plain
subject: St. Mary's (County)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/8069/st-marys-county
subject: 24037 (Fips Code)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/8070/24037-fips-code
subject: Maryland (State / Territory)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/2184/maryland-state-territory
subject: Naval Air Station Patuxent River
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/78247/naval-air-station-patuxent-river
subject: North America (Continent)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/2890/north-america-continent
subject: 18th Century
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/5549/18th-century
subject: 19th Century
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/5536/19th-century
subject: 20th Century
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/4/20th-century
subject: Historic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/25/historic
subject: African American
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/26/african-american
subject: Euroamerican
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/28/euroamerican
subject: 18ST393
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/9170/18st393
subject: 18ST399
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/9208/18st399
subject: Domestic Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/256/domestic-structures
subject: Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/251/domestic-structure-or-architectural-complex
subject: Ceramic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/1/ceramic
subject: Fauna
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/4/fauna
subject: Glass
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/6/glass
subject: Building Materials
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/8/building-materials
subject: Metal
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/11/metal
subject: Structural Remains
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/8797/structural-remains
subject: Farmstead
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/135027/farmstead
subject: Artifact Distribution
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/6679/artifact-distribution
subject: Soil Chemical Analysis
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/86680/soil-chemical-analysis
subject: 18ST399
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/86698/18st399
subject: Brass Religious Medallion
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/86700/brass-religious-medallion
subject: Henry Ford
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/other-keyword/86699/henry-ford
subject: Site Evaluation / Testing
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/10/site-evaluation-testing

description: Report Abstract:

Archaeological excavations were undertaken during 1987 at The Susquehanna site (18ST399), located at the mouth of the Patuxent River in St. Mary's County, Maryland. The Susquehanna house, believed to date to the first half of the 19th century, had been moved to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in 1942, where it is now a part of the exhibits there. The purpose of these excavations, funded by the Edison Institute of the Henry Ford Museum, was to recover information concerning the elements and organization of the Susquehanna homelot in the 19th and 20th centuries for use in exhibit interpretation. The investigative strategy consisted of a shovel test pit survey, limited test excavations, and recording of surviving aboveground features. Elements associated with both the 19th and 20th century occupations were found, and the accuracy of an 1848 map showing the Susquehanna homelot was tested. The location of the dairy and two outbuildings associated with Susquehanna were found. Evidence for an earlier dwelling preceding the Susquehanna farmhouse was also recovered. Dating to the second half of the 18th century, this structure may have been abandoned several years before Susquehanna was built. Activities associated with the 18th century occupation were also identified and may indicate the locations of associated outbuildings. Further, the foundations of the agricultural buildings were relocated, a site believed to be an outlying quarter was identified, and a 19th/20th century road was found. Finally, an early 1840s date of construction for the farmhouse now in Dearborn was determined based on both historical and archaeological data.