The artifacts suggested that the area once included a house or farmstead. The datable nails and household materials that MAA found indicated that the site was occupied from the early 18th century to the early 20th century. MAA found that the site contained relatively intact soils with the potential to contain additional cultural material.

· How do artifacts from the site reflect the different religious practices of its Quaker, then Methodist, occupants?

 

· What sorts of crops were grown on the site and what was the diet of site occupants through the different periods of occupation?

MAA conducted further excavations at the Basil smith Site in 2001, to gather more information about the previously identified artifact concentrations. To their surprise, MAA archeologists also discovered a small fieldstone foundation and hearth. The artifacts in and around the fieldstone foundation were among the richest at the site. Most artifacts were parts of household items, such as ceramic plates and glass canning jars, but personal items such as buttons and a ceramic pipe were also discovered.

Concentration 1 :

Concentration 1 included an area of domestic artifacts covering almost 2 acres. The concentration covered the top of a small wooded knoll, an adjacent down slope, and a lower flat area believed to represent a filled-in stream basin that was covered with heavy undergrowth. Concentration 1 was the larger and older of the two artifact concentrations and was the first portion of the site identified. Unfortunately, no significant features (such as a building foundation) were discovered. Artifacts such as datable ceramics and bottle glass indicate that the site was occupied from the late 18th to the mid 19th century.

Architectural Items. The large number of architectural artifacts found in this concentration suggest that a building once stood in the area. Architectural artifacts included very small brick fragments and mortar, window glass, and nails. The brick fragments most likely represent just a few whole bricks. The window glass is all of "modern" manufacturing techniques, suggesting that it dates to the 19th rather than 18th century. Although poorly preserved, most nails are identifiable, primarily newer cut nails, though archeologists also recovered older handwrought nails, and modern wire nails as well. The nails are of all different types (floor, finishing, etc.) and date from the 18th-19th centuries.

The architectural materials provide few clues as to the type or function of the former structure. The small number of nails indicate that the structure was not lumber framed. The structure may have been constructed from logs, but no foundation or sill features were identified. The small number of bricks and brick fragments recovered indicate that the structure was not of brick construction, although it might have had a brick chimney.

Household Items. Domestic materials found in Concentration 1 include ceramics (such as dinnerware) and bottle glass. The ceramic and glass pieces provided the most clues about the age of a site and the wealth of its occupants.

Ceramics, such as earthenware, creamware, and pearlware indicate that the site might have been occupied during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Fragments of a kaolin tobacco pipe and five sherds of dark olive and olive green wine bottle glass also reflect this period. These artifacts were luxury items, indicating that the site occupant at this time was prosperous. Few utilitarian wares (such as bowls or crocks used in food preparation or storage) were recovered. Other ceramic artifacts such as whiteware, ironstone, and yellowware sherds, as well as brown, blue, pink, and clear bottle glass fragments indicate that the site might have been occupied from the early 19th to early 20th century.

Many researchers at similar sites found that with the advent of fully automated glass container production, the ratio of container glass to ceramics discovered during excavation is usually high. In Concentration 1, however, the ratio is low. The relative absence of manufactured glass indicates that the site was probably not occupied or used much during the 20th century.

Concentration 2:

Concentration 2 included a 1-½ acre area located in the northeastern portion of the site, along a wooded ridge and hill slope and a portion of an overgrown lower flat that is believed to represent the previously identified stream bed. Archeologists hoped to find intact deposits of artifacts, but the area was previously disturbed. The artifacts recovered from this concentration included utilitarian household items and ceramics dating to the later period of occupation (mid 19th century to early 20th century).

Foundation (see the foundation planview)

The foundation at the Basil Smith site, located on a wooded, gently sloped terrace south of the artifact concentrations, was not discovered until one year after archeologists had discovered Concentrations 1 and 2. Archeologists uncovered a portion of a 16' X 18' fieldstone foundation south of the artifact concentrations. In addition to the foundation, archeologists located a large hearth, and a concentration of brick that was probably from the structure's chimney.

Archeologists hoped to find information on the relative wealth, cultural affiliation, and ethnicity of the site inhabitants. The area was undisturbed and rich in artifacts. The large number of nails recovered indicate that the structure was made of milled lumber rather than logs. Archeologists found no evidence that the structure was ever equipped for electricity, gas, or plumbing.

Household Items. Domestic materials such as ceramics, container glass, a portion of a clothing iron, and a pair of scissors indicate that the structure was probably a residence. Most artifacts were discovered along the perimeter of the foundation, but fragments of glass bottles were clustered immediately adjacent to the structure. The bottles may have been deposited after the structure was abandoned. The artifacts suggest that the structure was occupied sometime during the mid 19th century to the early 20th century.

Ceramics. A total of 55 vessels were reconstructed from the ceramic sherds recovered in the foundation deposits, 39 of which are undecorated. Most of the ceramic vessels are single vessels without matches, which indicates that vessels were purchased piecemeal rather than in matching sets.

Container Glass. Archeologists recovered a large array of bottle glass from the foundation deposits, but only two jars and four tin, glass-liner style canning lids. Most of the collection consists of medicinal, household, food, and toiletry containers. Many of the bottles were linked to manufacturers in Baltimore.

Faunal. The faunal (or bone) materials refer to the remains of animals that were used as food sources. Archeologists found bones from multiple wild and domestic species such as deer and pigs. The type of animal bones (beef, pork, etc.) and the type of cut (roast, chops, etc.) provided clues about the diet and economic status of the site occupants. The large portion of game indicates that the occupants hunted for much of their food, and the pork bones represented lower value cuts of pork, indicating that the residents were not wealthy.

Clothing/Personal Items. Thirty buttons were found near the foundation. Thirteen of these buttons are simple milk glass buttons. The rest of the buttons include seven minimally decorated glass buttons, two shell buttons, a bone button, five metal buttons (likely covered in cloth at one time), a faceted and lustered black glass woman's coat button, a black glazed ceramic button, and one bakelite button. Other personal artifacts include a glazed stoneware pipe bowl, clockwork gears from a pocket watch or clock, the leads from at least three pencils, and the teapot lid from a child's tea set.

Picker's Checks. Eight picker's checks, associated with the truck farming industry in Anne Arundel County, were recovered from the foundation. The picker's checks were either round or octagonal, and all were stamped with the initials "N.Q". They are believed to be associated with the Noah Queen farm, an African-American owned farm which operated to the north of the project parcel from approximately 1880 until the second quarter of the 20th century.