Maryland's Colonial History at West Ashcom the Archaeology Site (18ST871)

Abstract

The archaeology site West Ashcom (18ST871) has been the focus of archaeological excavation in earnest from 2012 to the present day. This report focuses on the historical background of this site's history, primarily focusing on its 17th and 18th century histories and the results of the 2016 field season excavations. The excavations at site 18ST871 have recovered materials identifying this site as a late 17th century occupation by the Ashcom family on the early colonial Maryland landscape. Methods used at this archaeological site include shovel test surveys, unit excavation, magnetometer survey, materials characterization using x-ray fluorescence, and x-radiography of metal artifacts.