Mending Tin Glaze Vessel for Exhibit

Curators not only have the responsibility of organizing and properly storing artifacts, they also often select objects for exhibit. And if the objects destined for display need cleaning or mending – well, sure, they can do that too. Curator Erin Wingfield is currently cleaning and mending a tin-glazed earthenware chamber pot to go on exhibit at The Todd’s Inheritance Historic Site, a property occupied by the Todd family from the late 17th century through the 1970’s. The chamber pot dates from the late 17th – to early 18th – century occupation of the site. Tin-glaze is both white and opaque, and Europeans from the 16th to the 18th centuries found that this glaze made a great base for decorating with colors such as blue, green, brown, purplish brown, and yellow.

Erin preparing the vessel for mending

Cobalt decorated tin-glazed earthenware

War of 1812 Event

On September 24th, from 10am to 5pm, discover The Battle of St. Leonard Creek – JPPM’s War of 1812 Reenactment! Taking place at the site of Maryland’s largest Naval engagement, this living history event includes battle reenactments, demonstrations of 19th-century crafts and camp life, exhibits, and hands-on activities. Admission is $3 per person or $10 per vehicle. And don’t forget about Tavern Night after the event! The same evening from 6pm – 10pm, you can celebrate the spirit of 1812 in our version of a 19th-century tavern. Play games, sing songs, and prepare for lively entertainment! Food and beverage will be available. Tavern Night admission is $10 per person or $8 for Friends of JPPM members. Dress in period costume for a $2 discount on admission!

See reenactors in battle

Discover camp life

Join in!

Poolesville HS Students Return

Each year, students from the Poolesville Magnet High School in Montgomery County come to JPPM to experience archaeology first-hand, and we are always happy to see these bright, inquisitive kids! This year, they helped to excavate at the Smith’s St. Leonard Site, toured the MAC Lab, and visited our FAQ exhibit in the Visitor Center to learn the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about archaeology. They also had the opportunity to speak with professional archaeologists, curators, and conservators here at the Park to learn about what we do and how we do it. We enjoyed showing them the ropes and look forward to their next visit!

On a tour of the MAC Lab

In the field

Get Ready for Children’s Day at JPPM!

The 1st Sunday of June every year, we invite you to enjoy Children’s Day at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. Activities include demonstrations and hands-on fun along with live entertainment, pony rides, games, food, and even an antique tractor parade. Stop by the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory, Public Archaeology site, and Indian Village for even more to see and learn! See you there!

Drilling the prehistoric way at the Indian Village.

See artifact conservation at the MAC Lab.

Play with a friend

Maryland Archeology Month 2011

April is Archeology Month and a great opportunity to take advantage of archaeology related activities all over Maryland. From Allegany to St. Mary’s Counties and all along the eastern shore, there will be lectures, exhibits, events, hands-on experiences, workshops, children’s activities, and excavations to demonstrate efforts to explore and protect Maryland’s heritage. We hope you enjoy them all! This year, Mount Calvert Historical and Archaeological Park is partnering with the Maryland Historical Trust and The Archeological Society of Maryland in creating a poster for Maryland Archeology Month and the MAC Lab has the honor of having quite a few artifacts from our collections appear on the new poster.

Here are just a couple of those MAC Lab artifacts:

Steatite effigy pendant from Dorchester County

Steatite effigy face from Frederick County

Turks Head pipe bowl from Baltimore City.

Pistol Butt Cap face decoration from Charles County.

*Go to The Archeology Society of Maryland’s webpage to see the 2011 poster and for the MAM events schedule.

*Go to April 2011 Curator’s Choice for more information on the effigies.

Maryland Archeology Month 2010

Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum (JPPM), State Museum of Archaeology, is proud to be partnering with The Maryland Historical Trust and The Archeological Society of Maryland in Maryland Archeology Month (MAM) 2010. The theme chosen for this year, “From Shovel to Showcase”, focuses on four aspects of the archeological process; Discovery, Preservation, Stewardship, and Education, which are all represented in the programs and activities offered at JPPM. MAC Lab staff created the MAM poster this year and authored the articles for the MAM informational booklet that will be available at Archeology Month events throughout the month of April. We hope that MAM 2010 will raise awareness of the effort to explore, protect and share Maryland’s heritage and we hope that you will enjoy all of the archaeology related activities offered in this month!

Go to The Archeological Society of Maryland’s webpage for information about Maryland Archeology Month activities for April.

MAM Poster created by MAC Lab staff

*Ever see an archaeological cartoon? Our very own MAC Lab conservator and artist, Nancy Shippen, created a series of cartoons for the MAM booklet – pick one up and check it out!