Reconstructing the Revolution-Era Cultural Landscapes of the Washington-Rochambeau Military Encampments – Virtual

 In Fall 1781, French and American troops marched south through Cecil and Harford Counties to besiege entrenched British forces at Yorktown, Virginia. In late Summer 1782, they made their victorious way north. The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), with funding from the American Battlefield Protection Program, is currently undertaking survey to identify and document the understudied encampment sites and cultural resources associated with these marches.

To date, MHT has conducted non-invasive archaeological survey at several sites around both counties and identified Rodgers Tavern for a National Register of Historic Places documentation update. MHT will present historical background on the troop movement, a crash course in the types of geophysical survey MHT has used to study these sites, and the preliminary results of the surveys conducted.

Registration Required

About Our Speaker:

Stephanie Soder is the Research Archaeologist for the Maryland Historical Trust. She received her master’s degree in Maritime Studies (Archaeology) at East Carolina University and has experience working on both terrestrial and underwater sites. Her interests include conflict archaeology, maritime history, public archaeology, and geophysical survey techniques. She and other archaeologists at the Office of Archaeology are responsible for researching, documenting, and preserving archaeological sites across the state.