Archaeology
While Bostwick is an architecturally significant local resource, the property also contains significant archaeological resources that represent the people who have lived, worked, and prepared food at this location for many years. This diverse history of occupation on the property began thousands of years ago with prehistoric hunters, who possibly camped on this prominent hill overlooking the Anacostia River, and extends to the indentured servants and enslaved African Americans who lived on the property during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. During the War of 1812, British officers and soldiers traversed the property as they passed through Bladensburg, and the house and grounds have been owned by a number of different families over its long history. Bostwick is, therefore, a potentially rich archaeological site, containing material evidence that could help researchers reconstruct and interpret what life was like for the diverse array of men and women who have lived on the property over time.
Archaeological investigations at Bostwick began in the summer of 2008 when the University of Maryland’s Center for Heritage Resource Studies (CHRS) conducted a Phase I survey of the property in an effort to identify the extent of archaeological resources on the property. The survey discovered several concentrated areas of activity at Bostwick, and provided an important planning tool for protecting these resources, and for developing future research methodologies for the site. When the Town of Bladensburg prepared a plan for widening and resurfacing Bostwick’s driveway in 2009, CHRS conducted an evaluation in order to further identify and assess the presence of significant cultural resources that might be impacted by the work. This investigation uncovered artifacts dating from the prehistoric period through the twentieth century.
Archaeological investigations have also been conducted at other historic sites in Bladensburg. In 2009, archaeologists with the Maryland State Highway Administration carried out a survey of the George Washington House, Magruder House, and Market Master’s House properties using Ground Penetrating Radar. In addition, the MHA maintains an informative website that documents their ongoing investigations at these sites.
2008 CHRS Phase I Survey Report
Beginning in August of 2008, archaeologists and students at the Center for Heritage Resource Studies (CHRS) at the University of Maryland conducted a program of archaeological field survey at the historic Bostwick House. The crew excavated 270 shovel test pits (STPs), recovering material culture from over 80% of them. Subsequent distribution analysis and examination of soil stratigraphy revealed the presence of six major activity areas of archaeological significance on the property.
2009 CHRS "Driveway" Report
In the spring of 2009, the Town of Bladensburg developed plans to re-route the existing driveway at the Bostwick House, and replace it with a permeable surface accessible to emergency vehicles. Although the proposed Area of Potential Effect (APE) did not directly intersect with one of the six areas identified in the previous survey, it was determined that the potential existed for intact cultural resources within the APE due to its proximity to one of the areas identified. In June of 2009, archaeologists and students from CHRS excavated four STP‟s and two test units within the new driveway's APE.
2009 Bladensburg GPR Survey
A geophysical survey was conducted from November 4 - 8, 2008 by Bryan Haley of the University of Mississippi Center for Archaeological Research at three historic sites in Bladensburg, Maryland. Work was performed in conjunction with PB Americas, Inc. for the State Highway Administration (SHA) of Maryland. The goal of the survey was to identify intact deposits of historical importance for future archaeological testing. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used for the survey. Following the field work, two dimensional maps and three dimensional models of the resulting GPR anomalies were created and analyzed.
2012 Bladensburg Archaeological Investigations: Magruder House, Market Master House, and Indian Queen Tavern Site
The Cultural Resources Section of the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) undertook archeological investigations of the Magruder House site (18PR982), Market Master House site (18PR983), and the Indian Queen Tavern site (18PR96). The work was accomplished through collaboration between SHA, URS Corporation, Hardlines Design Company, and the Center for Heritage Research studies at the University of Maryland. The three sites have both prehistoric and historic components documenting occupation of the landscape for the past 8,000 years. The purpose of the archeological studies was to gather information about the history of Bladensburg and to assist with site interpretation. The areas investigated are each less than 1 acre and located within Maryland Research Unit 11, the Riverine Potomac Drainage.
Bladensburg Archaeology Project
A blog dedicated to Archaeology in Bladensburg.
Professional archaeologists may obtain a copy of the reports by contacting Don Linebaugh.
Archaeological investigations at Bostwick began in the summer of 2008 when the University of Maryland’s Center for Heritage Resource Studies (CHRS) conducted a Phase I survey of the property in an effort to identify the extent of archaeological resources on the property. The survey discovered several concentrated areas of activity at Bostwick, and provided an important planning tool for protecting these resources, and for developing future research methodologies for the site. When the Town of Bladensburg prepared a plan for widening and resurfacing Bostwick’s driveway in 2009, CHRS conducted an evaluation in order to further identify and assess the presence of significant cultural resources that might be impacted by the work. This investigation uncovered artifacts dating from the prehistoric period through the twentieth century.
Archaeological investigations have also been conducted at other historic sites in Bladensburg. In 2009, archaeologists with the Maryland State Highway Administration carried out a survey of the George Washington House, Magruder House, and Market Master’s House properties using Ground Penetrating Radar. In addition, the MHA maintains an informative website that documents their ongoing investigations at these sites.
2008 CHRS Phase I Survey Report
Beginning in August of 2008, archaeologists and students at the Center for Heritage Resource Studies (CHRS) at the University of Maryland conducted a program of archaeological field survey at the historic Bostwick House. The crew excavated 270 shovel test pits (STPs), recovering material culture from over 80% of them. Subsequent distribution analysis and examination of soil stratigraphy revealed the presence of six major activity areas of archaeological significance on the property.
2009 CHRS "Driveway" Report
In the spring of 2009, the Town of Bladensburg developed plans to re-route the existing driveway at the Bostwick House, and replace it with a permeable surface accessible to emergency vehicles. Although the proposed Area of Potential Effect (APE) did not directly intersect with one of the six areas identified in the previous survey, it was determined that the potential existed for intact cultural resources within the APE due to its proximity to one of the areas identified. In June of 2009, archaeologists and students from CHRS excavated four STP‟s and two test units within the new driveway's APE.
2009 Bladensburg GPR Survey
A geophysical survey was conducted from November 4 - 8, 2008 by Bryan Haley of the University of Mississippi Center for Archaeological Research at three historic sites in Bladensburg, Maryland. Work was performed in conjunction with PB Americas, Inc. for the State Highway Administration (SHA) of Maryland. The goal of the survey was to identify intact deposits of historical importance for future archaeological testing. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used for the survey. Following the field work, two dimensional maps and three dimensional models of the resulting GPR anomalies were created and analyzed.
2012 Bladensburg Archaeological Investigations: Magruder House, Market Master House, and Indian Queen Tavern Site
The Cultural Resources Section of the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) undertook archeological investigations of the Magruder House site (18PR982), Market Master House site (18PR983), and the Indian Queen Tavern site (18PR96). The work was accomplished through collaboration between SHA, URS Corporation, Hardlines Design Company, and the Center for Heritage Research studies at the University of Maryland. The three sites have both prehistoric and historic components documenting occupation of the landscape for the past 8,000 years. The purpose of the archeological studies was to gather information about the history of Bladensburg and to assist with site interpretation. The areas investigated are each less than 1 acre and located within Maryland Research Unit 11, the Riverine Potomac Drainage.
Bladensburg Archaeology Project
A blog dedicated to Archaeology in Bladensburg.
Professional archaeologists may obtain a copy of the reports by contacting Don Linebaugh.