"Under Maryland Street, Ties to African Past"

In Annapolis, Maryland, archaeologists have found many artifacts that date back to early American slave culture. One recent artifact they have found is a clay bundle filled with around 300 pieces of metal which include lead shot, iron nails, and copper pins, and a stone axe which scientists believe was used for African American religious practices. The metal objects were considered to have a special power when they were worked in fire and were believed to increase the power of the objects when combined in compacted clay. Also, the stone axe was very important because it represented an African tribe’s God of thunder and lightning.
Professor Mark P. Leone believes that the bundle originated in Africa and was brought over by Africans who were sold into slavery. This means that the bundle is an African design, not African American. Professor Leone also said, “The people who made this used local materials. But their knowledge of the charms and the spirit world probably came with them directly from Africa.” The discovery of the bundle indicates that slaves still practiced their African heritage when they arrived from Africa. To view the article, Under Maryland Street, Ties to African Past: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/science/21arch.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&8dpc&oref=slogin