St. Leonard in Calvert County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Evidence Found in the Ground

King's Reach Site

Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015

1. Evidence Found in the Ground Marker

Inscription. Information about the people who lived here comes from the items that they left behind, such as objects discarded or lost. People also leave behind the remains of their buildings, as well as evidence of some of their daily activities. Archaeologist calls this type of evidence a “feature.” Unlike artifacts, features are part of the ground and cannot be removed easily. The King’s Reach features include hearths, storage cellars, garbage piles, fence ditches and discolorations in the soil left by decaying wooden posts.

Clues from Colonial Trash
Archaeologists found an amazing range of artifacts in the field: fine table glass, pottery, tobacco pipes, pewter spoons, a needle case, pins, jewelry, locks, horse harness ornaments, hoes, and animal bones, to name a just a few. They collected objects outside the houses, where early settlers threw their trash. Where the building once stood, researchers found artifacts that could have fallen between floor boards. Objects were also found in the soil that had filled the cellars and other features.

(Inscriptions below the images in the center)
Iron Chisel; German Stoneware

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Pottery; Clay Tobacco Pipe; Pewter Spoon; Iron Padlock.

This map shows the outline of the plantation owner’s house and servants’ residence. The possible use of rooms is noted.

(Inscriptions below the image at the top right)
Volunteer archaeologists work in the laboratory analyzing bones, and artifacts. For every day spent digging in the field, many more days are spent in the laboratory cleaning and analyzing the artifacts.

(Inscriptions below the images at the bottom right)
Horse Bridle; Glass Bottle; European Tin Glaze Pottery

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 38° 24.122′ N, 76° 30.719′ W. Marker is in St. Leonard, Maryland, in Calvert County. It is on Jefferson Patterson Park Road. The marker is located on the grounds of the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Leonard MD 20685, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Maryland. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South,

Evidence Found in the Ground Marker with property ruins in the background image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015

2. Evidence Found in the Ground Marker with property ruins in the background

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Tidewater,

in the Chesapeake Bay Region,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: King's Reach Post Mold Patterns (here, next to this marker); What Life Was Like Here (a few steps from this marker); Excavation Process Gathers the Most Information (within shouting distance of this marker); Indian Life at the Stearns Site (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); War on the Water (about 500 feet away); Discovery of a Colonial Plantation (about 700 feet away); Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Leonard.

Distant shot of the Evidence Found in the Ground Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015

3. Distant shot of the Evidence Found in the Ground Marker

Sign at the entrance to Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015

4. Sign at the entrance to Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 469 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 18, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.