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University of Denver

Investigating Town Design and Social Organization at Port Tobacco, Maryland, Through the Use of Archaeology and Geophysics

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This thesis examines the connection between town planning and social organization at the small town site of Port Tobacco in south-central Charles County, Maryland from the beginning of the 18th century through to the end of the 19th century. By employing a methodology of both geophysical techniques and archaeological excavations, I was able to locate and map numerous structures and features associated with town planning and examine how these spaces were used. This data was used to show how social order, power, and wealth transformed the town layout from a linear settlement along the river into a grid-like pattern. Specifically, I was able to show that these changes in town layout were dominated by the power of the local elite landowners and tobacco merchants.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.A.
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters Thesis
Year dc:date.available
2014

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Quantock, Peter Craig
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Lawrence Conyers, Ph.D.
  • Bonnie Clark
  • Matthew Taylor

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>
Language dc:language
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/530
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-1529

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Denver
Base URL
digitalcommons.du.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Quantock, Peter Craig. Investigating Town Design and Social Organization at Port Tobacco, Maryland, Through the Use of Archaeology and Geophysics. Masters Thesis thesis, 2014. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/530