Montgomery Parks’ Archaeology Program identifies, manages, and interprets archaeological sites on parkland and considers the effects of land-use decisions on cultural resources. Research and excavations contribute to interpretation, public education programs, restorations, and park development plans.
The program provides for the stewardship of non-renewable archaeological resources and an opportunity for public participation in discovering our past right in your backyard. Learn more below.
Current Work
Josiah Henson Museum & Park
Located just south of Rockville, the Josiah Henson Museum and Park contains the core of the 19th century Riley plantation that once covered hundreds of acres. This is the site where the Reverend Josiah Henson – a Freedom Seeker, minister, abolitionist, husband, and mid 19th century celebrity – was enslaved between c. 1800-1825, along with more than 20 others. Montgomery Parks now owns the former Riley residence, known as the Riley-Bolten House (pdf) , and just over 3 of the surrounding acres.
Archaeological investigations have taken place on the site since 2009 as part of the stewardship of the property and later, development of the Museum. The excavations have focused on uncovering any material culture remains of the enslaved population that lived and worked on this property. Fieldwork has revealed that parts of the Riley plantation survive intact, covered by the green lawns of modern residential lots, including foundations of former structures and many thousand 19th century artifacts. The site has been continuously occupied for almost 200 hundred years, and the features and artifacts reflect the property’s transition from plantation to tenant farm, to suburban development, and now, to public Museum.
To date, excavations have identified the location of at least two previously unknown structures, a late 18th-early 19th century kitchen midden, a cobble path, fence lines, and an early 20th century roadbed related to the earlier farm road. The kitchen midden feature provided an excellent environment for artifact preservation and contained a large number of artifacts related to the earliest occupants of the site. We are currently progressing with the analysis of all the recovered material and the preparation of a technical report.
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| Decorative part of a horse bridle from the late 18th-early 19th century, excavated at the Josiah Henson site. | Excavated porcelain doll face from Josiah Henson log kitchen. | Various 19th century buttons excavated from the Josiah Henson site. |
Ongoing Projects
The Archaeology Program is working on several ongoing research and education projects to explore Montgomery County’s past. See below for more information on each one.
Palmer-Robinson
Located along the Potomac River and used at various times during the past 5000 years, this rock shelter was excavated in the early 2000s. Artifacts recovered include projectile points, Native American ceramic fragments, animal bone, and debitage (waste material from the manufacture of stone tools). Artifacts from this little-known period of Montgomery County’s past are currently on display at the Woodlawn Museum.
Oakley Cabin African American Museum and Park
Oakley Cabin is a 19th century African American historical archaeological site in Brookeville, Maryland. Montgomery Parks archaeologists have been investigating the area around the existing cabin, as well as two adjacent cabins that once stood along Brookeville Road. Thanks to a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, Montgomery Parks can revisit Oakley’s extensive archaeological collection. The goal is to catalog and analyze the artifacts that have been recovered over the years and continue to research the vibrant African American community that lived here during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Zeigler Log House
During the last few years, Montgomery College students and Montgomery Parks Archaeology Camp participants have unearthed clues about the Zeigler Log House’s past. These clues, in the form of artifacts and features, are giving us a glimpse into the lives of the people who lived at the site for over 180 years. We have concentrated on the back and side yards of the house and have found traces of outbuildings and walkways. We are just at the beginning of cataloging and analyzing the data. Our goal is to complete the picture of life on a historic rural farm in northern Montgomery County.
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in Montgomery County’s past, volunteer with us. Currently, we are looking for volunteers to help us catalogue artifacts. For more information see our volunteer opportunities.