Port Tobacco Archaeological ProjectRegular updates of the Port Tobacco Archaeological Project. The Project is sponsored by the Archeological Society of Maryland, the Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco, the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium, Preservation Maryland, and Preserve America.ASM Board Meeting- September 6, 2008 I'm in Columbia, Maryland, attending the quarterly meeting of the board of the Archeological Society of Maryland. We are having fruitful discussions about various issues confronting the Society and Maryland archaeology. One of the issues that we have discussed is the Tyler Bastian Annual Field Session in Archeology.Port Tobacco hosted the second field session of 2008 (unprecedented, it is usually just one) this past June. the benefits of that effort are too numerous to recount right now....http://porttobacco.blogspot.com/2008/09/asm-b-oard-meeting.html Map Update- September 5, 2008 Earlier this week, Jim showed you an updated map of our site work. One of the problems with the picture, obviously, is that you can't click on it to blow it up for a better look. That problem has been solved thanks to the wondrous Dr. Beisaw! It seems it was a simple matter of using a different web browser to upload the pictures from other than internet explorer. Ah, the wonders of computer technology (which Jim and I have yet to master). An updated map will be coming soon with a "clickable"...http://porttobacco.blogspot.com/2008/09/map-update.html Odd Jobs- September 4, 2008 Wharfinger (wharfinger) - an owner of a wharfAs I posted the other day, there are always a few things in the census data that I don't know the meaning of, as in today's post. I assumed from the name that the occupation was that of someone in the fishing or shipping business. It turns out that it is the owner of a wharf.There isn't much out there (at least that I was able to find today) about the business of owning a wharf. From what I can gather, the owner of the wharf usually had a...http://porttobacco.blogspot.com/2008/09/odd-jobs.html June Field Session Site Map- September 3, 2008 Pete is drafting figures for our report on the June field session. Here's a map that shows the distribution of units (blue squares with illegible numbers represent 5 ft by 5 ft excavation units).It is remarkable how much we found in so few units. Of course, we hedged our bets by surveying the area with closely spaced (25 ft) shovel test pits the previous year. Still, the cluster of three units to the left exposed part of a cemetery and paling fence ditch, the cluster at the top of the figure...http://porttobacco.blogspot.com/2008/09/june-field-session-site-map.html Everyday People- September 2, 2008 As I sort through the census data in Port Tobacco, I occasionally come across terms that I haven't heard before. Usually they are just abbreviations used by the government to shorten the census forms. This time, I am looking for information on the different jobs held by Port Tobacco residents for a paper April and I are writing for the upcoming Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology conference in October (http:www.smcm.edusoancnehacneha08.htm).One of the jobs I came across was that of a...http://porttobacco.blogspot.com/2008/09/everyday-people.html Website on Thomas Arvin- September 1, 2008 Bonnie and I returned from Louisiana yesterday...a timely departure, to say the least. While there we received a comment on a blog posting from July 30, 2008. Since many of you will miss that comment, I thought I would insert it here and provide some explanation.For some interesting information about this cemetery and Rev. Wilmer, please see my website. Best way to find it is simply Google for "Thomas Arvin" He is my fifth-great grandfather.Robert Joseph Arvin,...http://porttobacco.blogspot.com/2008/09/website-on-thomas-arvin.html |