Anne Arundel County Celebrates Maryland Archaeology Month 2022

Each April, the State of Maryland celebrates Archaeology Month to promote the preservation and stewardship of archaeological resources with public events, talks, and exhibits. County Executive Steuart Pittman recognized April 2022 as Archaeology Month in an Executive Proclamation, and we invite you to celebrate with us across Anne Arundel County! 

Anne Arundel County has a decades-long commitment to recording and preserving archaeological sites, with over 1,700 sites documented in the county, more than any other county in the State of Maryland. The Office of Planning & Zoning has been on the cutting edge of innovative archaeological protections in local government since the County’s archaeology program was established in the late 1980s. The Cultural Resources Section has led the way for best practices in protecting archaeology sites at the local level– a  model for other jurisdictions across the nation. 

The Office of Planning & Zoning is joining in on the celebration by inviting citizens to participate in our Preservation Stewardship Program, sponsored by the Cultural Resources Section. The CRS team will offer several events and educational programs throughout the month, so citizens can explore, experience, and participate in preserving the historic places that matter across the county.

• April 12, 2022 at 6:00 pm- Volunteer Orientation Session for 2022 – Interested in volunteering on an archaeological dig or in the lab? Lab Director Amelia Chisholm and Archaeologist Drew Webster will hold a volunteer orientation at the County Archaeology Lab in Edgewater on April 12 at 6:00 pm. Learn the basics of archaeology, and learn more about how you can get your hands dirty this year, researching and preserving archaeology and historic sites across the County.
• April 20, 21, 22 and April, 27, 28, 29 (8:00 am – 3:00 pm daily) Volunteer Archaeology Field Session at Whitehall Plantation – In partnership with the State of Maryland and the Lost Towns Project, the CRS team will excavate in an area of the property that could yield new information about those who worked and lived on the plantation in the late 18^th and 19^th century and whose stories have yet to be told. We welcome a limited number of volunteers to assist. Pre-registration is required.
• April 30th at 8:00 am, CRS will participate in the Scenic Rivers Land Trust’s Walk for the Woods, a day of guided hikes and exhibits at Bacon Ridge Natural Area celebrating the nature and history of this protected county-owned land hosted by the non-profit Scenic Rivers Land Trust. Archaeologist Shawn Sharpe will lead an archaeology hike at 8:00 am, and Drew Webster will showcase a traveling archaeology exhibit featuring artifacts from around the county.
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays- Year Round- Volunteers can join professional archaeologists at the Anne Arundel Archaeology Laboratory in Edgewater, to assist in processing artifacts, including washing, labeling, sorting, and cataloging. No experience is needed.
• Amelia Chisholm, Archaeology Laboratory Director for Anne Arundel County, recorded a virtual presentation with colleagues from Prince Georges and Howard Counties, on the Archaeology of the Patuxent River. Check out this link to view the video and learn more about the archaeology and history of the river, the longest located entirely in Maryland. 
• In honor of Archaeology Month and to support the County’s mission to protect significant historic sites, the Cultural Resources Section invites you to help us with this online Cemetery Preservation Survey which allows the public to provide their own observations of the conditions and risks to endangered historic cemeteries in their communities.   

Reservations are required for most events. To sign up for one or more events, or to learn more about the County’s Preservation Stewardship Program, visit. www.aacounty.org/Preservation-Stewardship