Annapolis: Historical Archaeology

Brief Definition of the Topic

Annapolis, first settled in 1649, is located on the Chesapeake Bay and is the current capital of the state of Maryland. Initially centered on the Chesapeake tobacco economy, Annapolis is known today for its maritime and heritage tourism industries. The city served as the short-lived capital of the United States from 1783 to 1784 and has been the home of the US Naval Academy since 1845. Annapolis has become a tourist destination due to its seventeenth century town plan, and surviving impressive eighteenth century and vernacular nineteenth century buildings. A formal archaeological program, Archaeology in Annapolis, began in 1981 through collaboration with University of Maryland, College Park, Historic Annapolis Foundation, and City of Annapolis. Since that time, Archaeology in Annapolis has excavated sites ranging from elite colonial houses and gardens to early twentieth century houses of middle and working class people from different racial backgrounds....