Phase I Survey and Predictive Model Testing, Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland (2012.043)

On behalf of the Department of the Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington, The Louis Berger Group, Inc. (LBG), carried out a Phase I archaeological survey of three areas at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Charles County, Maryland. The survey was conducted as part of compliance efforts for Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended. The purpose of the Phase I survey was both to determine the presence or absence of archaeological sites in the survey areas and to assess the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility of the sites to the extent possible at the Phase I level. The archaeological survey was also conducted to test a predictive model for archaeological resources developed for the installation in 2009.

Both identified sites (18CH815 and 18CH816) are recommended as not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Site 18CH815 is an early twentieth-century domestic site with poor integrity and negligible information potential. Site 18CH816 is a small prehistoric site of unknown age with a very low density of prehistoric debitage; it appears to have good stratigraphic integrity but has low information potential.

The Phase I survey findings, particularly from Survey Area 2, raised questions about the accuracy of the 2009 predictive model. Survey Area 2 was determined to have high potential for prehistoric resources, but no prehistoric sites were identified. In addition, the findings from Survey Areas 1 and 3 showed that very low-density scatters of prehistoric artifacts may be present in areas modeled as low potential. Suggestions are made regarding refinement of the 2009 model: additional testing of the model should take place; and if model refinement is necessary, archaeologists may wish to reconsider treatment of the “distance to water” variable.This collection contains an artifact inventory and utilized codes, excavation photographs, photograph log, and final report for phase I archaeological investigations at Naval Support Facility, Indian Head, Maryland. The MAC Lab accession number for the images and artifacts is 2012.043. This collection also includes the project page Phase I Survey and Predictive Model Testing, Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland (2012.043).