Contact the Education Programs Administrator at 410-222-1919 x212 or via email for availability, bookings, and more information
 

Archaeology:

Students are able to take their study of Maryland’s Colonial period one step further as they work alongside archaeologists from the Anne Arundel County Lost Towns Project. Students learn about the people of London Town whose lives are often not recorded in historical documents. They participate in one of the largest ongoing archaeological excavations in the state of Maryland by screening for and examining artifacts that were used by men and women, convict and indentured servants, enslaved people and others who lived in London Town. Through these artifacts a voice is once again given to those unrecorded souls. Primary and secondary sources about these people are scarce, so artifacts are the primary sources we have to study. Artifacts, found by archaeologists, offer the students an alternative method for historical research and writing. The teacher’s packet with pre- and post-visit activities is here.

* Please note that the Screening for Artifacts portion of the Archaeology program is only offered on Wednesdays.
 

Lessons Used:

The following are some of the individual lessons used. Not all lessons are used in every program.  Screening for artifacts is weather dependent, if students are unable to screen another activity will be substituted.

• Screening for Artifacts—Students assist the Lost Towns Project archaeologists sift dirt from one of Maryland’s largest on-going archaeological excavations.
• Rumney/ West Site—Students visit the completed excavation of a colonial public house. Hands-on artifact analysis and discussion of the methodology of archaeology gives students a well rounded understanding of the process of archaeology.
• Artifact Washing—Students wash and clean artifacts previously recovered.
• Artifact Mending—Students have to piece together broken ceramics to try to understand what the original vessel looked like.