National Register Eligibility Evaluations of Sites 18ST659 and 18ST754 and Data Recovery Excavations at VXX Presidential Helicopter Facility, Naval Air Station Patuxent River (2006.055)

Part of: Naval Air Station Patuxent River (Main Complex), St. Mary's County, Maryland

Phase II evaluative testing of archaeological sites 18ST659 and 18ST754 and Phase III data recovery of archaeological site 18ST659, both in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, were conducted in support of the new VXX Presidential Helicopter Program Support Facility at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Both sites are located on terrace landforms adjacent to Harper’s Creek near the mouth of the Patuxent River. The overall purpose of evaluative testing was to determine whether the sites contained sufficient research data and met eligibility requirements for listing in the National Register. The Phase II findings determined that site 18ST754 did not possess high research value and did not meet the eligibility criteria for the National Register. Site 18ST659, however, contained high research value based on the presence of in situ cultural features and a high density of prehistoric material remains and was determined eligible for inclusion in the National Register.

In order to mitigate new construction impacts to site 18ST659, Phase III data recovery investigations were undertaken. The purpose of the investigations was to closely examine the archaeological deposits and collect sufficient data to address important research themes on the prehistory of the local area and the Chesapeake Bay region. Data recovery excavations consisted of manual excavation of a total of 144 m2 in four block excavations, followed by machine stripping of three 10-x-20-m areas and one 10-x-10-m area of the site in order to expose features, analyze site deposits, and recover artifactual data. In total, 25,137 artifacts were recovered from the Phase III excavations and 51 features were identified. Among the collection of artifacts are 395 lithic tools, 15,382 pieces of debitage, and 813 faunal items.

This collection contains the National Register Eligibility Evaluations of Sites 18ST659 and 18ST754 and Data Recovery Excavations at VXX Presidential Helicopter Facility, Naval Air Station Patuxent River (2006.055) project. It includes the report, artifact inventories, photographs and photo logs.

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National Register Eligibility Evaluations of Sites 18ST659 and 18ST754 and Data Recovery Excavations at VXX Presidential Helicopter Facility, Naval Air Station Patuxent River (2006.055)