Finding Ephemeral Homes of the Enslaved

Abstract

Finding archaeological sites of the enslaved and impoverished can be difficult due to their destitution and limited material possessions. This chapter compares two widely used methods of archaeological survey in the discovery and identification of domestic sites of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century enslaved African Americans at St. Mary’s City. The findings indicate that controlled surface collection is a more effective methodology than shovel test pit excavation for locating archaeological sites with low artifact densities. Using an area targeted for construction, our research concludes that the site was the home of enslaved laborers on the plantation of John Mackall and James Broom between ca. 1780 and 1840. Ceramics, glass, and architectural materials are analyzed and the insights they provide about enslaved life at St. Mary’s City are reported. An unusual palisade fence enclosure that surrounded the log quarters of the residents is also discussed.