High School Students, County Archaeologists to Conduct Dig at 19th-Century Homestead

ROCKVILLE – Approximately 25 students from two
area high school archaeology clubs will join Maryland-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) historic preservation staff at an archaeological
dig from 5 p.m. Friday through 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27 and 28 near
Needwood Mansion in Rockville.

The students will treat the dig as real
archaeologists would – recording the location of each artifact and keeping the
site organized under the supervision of trained archaeological staff from
M-NCPPC. The dig will explore the remnants of 19^th-century
outbuildings, likely slave quarters, near the mansion, a restored 1856 dwelling
built by an early farmer and now owned by M-NCPPC

The archaeology clubs from Rockville’s Magruder High School
and Richard Montgomery High School are the only clubs in the county that take
part in excavations on a regular basis. While the club at Magruder High School
is new, the club at Richard Montgomery High School was established in 1984.

WHO:
Students from Magruder High School
Students from Richard Montgomery High School
Archaeologists from Park and Planning

WHAT:
Archaeological dig

WHEN:
5 p.m. Friday through 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27 and April
28

WHERE:
Needwood Mansion
6700 Needwood Road
Rockville, MD 20855-1639

NOTE:
Members of the public and the press are invited to watch the
excavations. The public may tour the
site.