Evolving Landscapes Of The Mackall And Brome Plantations In St. Mary’s City, Maryland.

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

From 1774 to 1813 most of the town known as St. Mary’s City was owned by John Mackall. Upon his death in 1813 he owned over 1,700 acres, and his inventory names 40 enslaved people. The same land was later owned by John Brome, who had 58 enslaved individuals by 1860. Where on the landscape did the enslaved live, and what is the relationship of the plantation owner’s residence to that of the enslaved? Archaeological investigations have provided the only tangible evidence of the location of dwellings for the enslaved, except for one quarter that is still standing. Tax assessments, estate inventories, and newspaper ads provide some information on building descriptions. Discussion will include the archaeological evidence of several of these often-ephemeral sites of where enslaved individuals lived. An analysis of the evolving landscapes deliberately created by the plantation owners will be presented.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SHA 2023 General Sessions   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2023

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow