Page 149 - Maryland Historical Trust - Archaeology Colonial MD

intersection of the Wicomico River and Bram- leigh Creek. The site is situated along an advanta- geous point along the river, with a wide viewshed of the Wicomico and the Potomac Rivers, where one can observe across the Potomac to the cliffs on the Virginia side at present-day Stratford Hall. Smith says little about the people of Secowoco- moco other than that the settlement was home to an estimated 40 warriors. The extent of his en- counters with these people was likely very mini- mal, but he did perceive this settlement as being a relative place of power. This would cause one to assume that Secowocomoco was likely the home of a person or persons of relatively high status. These observations manifest themselves archaeo- logically in several ways, some obvious, and some subtle.
Archaeological investigations at the site
revealed the presence of two large and expan- sive shell middens, the largest of which measures roughly 22 acres in size (see figures 7 through 9). This midden, herein referred to as the “South Midden” runs along the banks of the Wicomico River for about 1600 feet and extends as far back as 600 feet in a semi-circular distribution.23
The native occupation of the site itself has considerable time-depth. The most intense period of occupation at the Secowocomoco site occurred during the Late Woodland (AD 900–1600), though archaeological evidence points to sub- stantial settlement activity during the Early and Middle Woodland periods as well (1000 BC–AD 200 and AD 200–900, respectively). Earlier use of the site dates as far back as the Middle Archa- ic period (6000–3500 BC) as evidenced by diag- nostic lithic material. The overwhelming majority
figure 6
Sites featured in the text.
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