The 2023 Tyler Bastian Field Session in Maryland Archeology will be held at the Chapel Branch West Site, near Denton, Maryland, from 19 - 29 May, 2023.

This Pre-Colonial American Indian site is immediately adjacent to the colonial Barwick’s Ordinary site, which was the location of the 2022 Field Session. During the 2022 Field Session, a shovel test pit survey documented a presumed living surface yielding 3,000 to 1,000 year old artifacts intact below the plow zone. The 2023 Field Session will investigate this buried living surface to document the American Indian occupations and hopefully reveal intact cultural features including house patterns, hearths, and storage pits.

Dr. Julie Markin of Washington College will serve as principal investigator for this project and will be pursuing many research topics during the upcoming Field Session, including the dating of the occupations, the domestic architecture and internal layout of the site, and subsistence practices.

The Field Session is held in cooperation with the Maryland Historic Trust's Office of Archeology. The purpose of the Field Session is to introduce lay persons to archeological methods and to teach Maryland's past through hands-on involvement while making meaningful contributions to the study of Maryland archeology. The Principal Investigators will work with MHT, Office of Archeology staff who will provide professional oversight of volunteers at the site.

As in years past, primitive camping will be offered for those interested in staying over. For details and to reserve your camping spot, contact MHT Research Archaeologist Stephanie Soder at Stephanie.Soder@maryland.gov or 410-697-9552.