250 Years, Many Voices: Digging into Maryland's Story

The 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States on July 4, 2026, invites reflection through Maryland’s archaeological record, which reveals stories of revolution, resilience, and

innovation across diverse communities and time periods. Maryland Archeology Month 2026 commemorates this milestone by highlighting Maryland’s roles before, during, and after the Revolutionary War, exploring investigations of military campsites, uncovering everyday life in revolutionary Maryland, and reframing traditional “founding” narratives.

The articles in this booklet illustrate the wealth of information preserved in Maryland’s archaeological record, which allows us to better understand the diverse peoples and communities who shaped our shared past. In recognition of the United States’ Semiquincentennial, these studies highlight stories of revolution, perseverance, creativity

and everyday life across Maryland before, during, and after the American Revolution. Together, they illuminate the role archaeology plays in expanding our understanding of the nation’s founding through inclusive, evidence-based interpretation.

The cover of this booklet, which also serves as the Maryland Archeology Month Poster, illustrates three of the notable “Many Voices” to be celebrated across Maryland during the 250th anniversary of American independence. The poster highlights how we’ve come to

know these voices by the way they were carried and amplified through Press, Print, and People. Press being journalism and its role in the American Revolution, highlighted using the Death’s Head print type -- used to signify the Stamp Act from the Jonas and Anne Green

collection. Print being the published biography of Josiah Henson’s and how it inspired the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin and how both printed works changed discourse about slavery. People being used to highlight traditional knowledge spread through oral histories and how

those stories relate to the lasting effects of colonialism and how indigenous families persisted. Stories like those passed down to Rico Newman, an elder of the Choptico Band of the Piscataway Conoy tribe, whose family history was instrumental in narrowing down the location of the Choptico Town archeological site, which was identified a little over a decade ago.

Want to take part in uncovering the local stories of revolution, resilience, and innovation that shape Maryland?

Join the Archeological Society of Maryland, whose goals include the creation of bonds between avocational and professional archeologists. Volunteer on public archeology field

and laboratory projects. Attend lectures, workshops, and archeological site tours

(see the Calendar of Events on the Maryland Archeology Month website, (www.marylandarcheologymonth.org). Engaging with the archeological

community benefits all Marylanders!