A Fragile Window into a Lost World

Over the last 30 years, the discovery of thousands of artifacts is helping to uncover the reality of African and European-American life at Carroll’s Hundred during the Revolutionary period. We’re finding an astonishing story of the crucible of democracy in the Mid-Atlantic.  Items such as an unusual crystal buried beneath the original foundation of the kitchen wing of the Carrolls’ mansion may reveal new information about African spiritual traditions that made their way to colonial America during slavery.  And, there is much more yet to excavate.

An Endangered History that Needs our Help Now!

Over the last five years, serious violations of the state’s preservation easement have occurred at Carroll’s Hundred that threaten to obliterate what is left of this irreplaceable history.  When archaeological sites are disturbed without proper documentation, their evidence is gone forever, and our window into history is lost.

Important African American History is Being Lost

Evidence of African American life is not just located in slave quarters on these early American estates, but in the foundations of every building where slaves lived and worked.  At Carroll’s Hundred these included the remains of an office, kitchen, dairy, and rare ventilation tunnel, all of which were seriously damaged by trenching for a sewer line in 2005.  Because of this, our efforts to study and understand the crystal (thought to be similar to an African nkisi object) and many other artifacts have been seriously compromised. This makes our job of preserving what is left even more urgent.

The Artifact Conservation Project

A generous grant from The 1772 Foundation in 2007 enabled us to begin the conservation of this important collection.  It funded a unique partnership with The Baltimore Talent Development High School, Carroll’s Hundred, and the Center for Heritage Resource Studies at the University of Maryland to re-house and re-package the site’s artifact collection using archival materials.

Become Involved!

By becoming involved, as a Carroll’s Hundred member, as a volunteer in the artifact conservation project, or by participating in other activities, you can help to support this vitally-needed effort to preserve Maryland’s authentic past.