Speculations on Proto-Grovite Society

long before the arrival of the current batch of eccentrics, the Grove appears to have been inhabited by a society, hitherto unknown, referred to herein as the Proto-Grovites.  little is known about these people, but by piecing together some of the clues that have been left to us it appears that they had attained remarkable accomplishments before mysteriously vanishing. 

the Proto-Grovites appear to have lived in harmony with their natural surroundings during a period of warm climate.  the Proto-Grovites developed a complex culture with intricate burial practices, advanced materials engineering and even hints of contact with an advanced humanoid race of interstellar traders.  this latter connection could account both for their astonishing technical skill and for their disappearance from the area before the onset of european civilisation. 

Recent Grove history

the Grove's history is well documented over the last hundred-odd years.  an online chronology of events located on the Town's web site draws upon published works by Edwards, Shantz and others. 

Grove history during the colonial period

little seems to have happened in the Grove during this time - the recorded events took place elsewhere.  a summary of the chronology follows: 

• the Mid-Atlantic region was claimed by the English crown during the reign of Elizabeth I, and the first English settlers brought to Roanoke Island by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585.  six years later the Roanoke Island colony was abandoned and survivors evacuated by Sir Francis Drake. 
• James I issued a royal charter to the London Company in 1606, granting that group a lease on lands in the New World.  the new colony of Virginia included the future site of the Grove.  the first permanent English settlement was established at Jamestown the following year.  the London Company's royal charter was modified in 1609 and 1612 but it entered receivership in 1622.  in 1624 the London Company's charter was revoked and Virginia became a royal colony under the direct rule of the King. 
• Charles I divided the Province of Maryland from Virginia in 1632 and granted it to the first Lord Baltimore; English settlers arrived in Maryland the following year.  the future site of the Grove was located in Charles County. 
• Charles County was divided in 1695, shifting the future site of the Grove into Prince Georges County.  Price Georges County was divided in 1748, relocating the future site of the Grove into Frederick County.  Frederick County was divided in 1776, after the outbreak of hostilities, moving the future site of the Grove into Montgomery County, in which it has since remained.  Maryland ratified the US Constitution in 1788. 

Grove prehistory

it is generally held that the precolonial inhabitants of the area were Algonquin Indians of the Piscataway Nation.  the proto-Grovites may or may not have been related to these peoples - the evidence is inconclusive. 

the precolumbian inhabitants of the Grove left no written records, so investigators are forced to rely upon the fragmentary physical evidence dating from this period. 

Grove archaeology

the Grove was heavily wooded at the time of its aquisition by the Washington Grove Camp Meeting Association in 1873.  early development was largely limited to the construction of walkways, tents and cottages.  subsequent additions to the Grove's infrastructure, such as tennis courts, water mains and even cable TV, have been effectuated without a great deal of disruption of the Grove's setting.  unfortunately, the proto-Grovite sites were so fragile that even these relatively modest incursions into the natural environment appear to have obliterated much of the remaining evidence of proto-Grovite habitation.  even the few artifacts that have turned up show clear evidence of molestation by squirrels. 

an archaeological survey of the environs of M^cCathran Hall was undertaken in the mid 1990s in connection with the Maryland Historical Trust approval of the renovation work on the Hall.  no significant cultural resources were noted during the exercise.  this does not come as a surprise, in that the proto-Grovite sites are considered to have been lost by that time. 

Proto-Grovite archaeology

despite the lack of undisturbed proto-Grovite sites, from time to time the occasional artifact emerges as a surface find.  these objects, when taken together, can be seen to reveal fascinating aspects of the proto-Grovite society.  further study of this promising material has been limited by a nearly complete inattention to the significance of these finds on the part of the established anthropological and archaeological academic communities.  as a result, funding for the continuing study of proto-Grovite culture has been tragically scarce.  the efforts at recovery, conservation and interpretation of proto-Grovite artifacts have been correspondingly limited to resources on hand. 

Artifacts

the artifacts unearthed to date include the following: 

Artifact	WG-00-7AV-1
Provenance	surface find in abandoned right-of-way of 7th Avenue, near the Circle
Material	unglazed ceramic
Finish	painted or stained
Dimensions	h: 6.0325 x w: 3.65125 cm (2.375 x 1.4375 in.)
Fetish, totem, or decorative jewelry of unknown ritual significance. Examination of this artifact in the shape of a cat reveals the following: as the domestic cat (Felis catus) is known to have been introduced by european settlers; this figurine may represent a bobcat (Felis rufus) and would indicate that the proto-Grovites may have worshipped cats.  this raises the fascinating possibility of links to other cat-worshipping cultures such as the Egyptian cult of Bastet.  the creature is depicted as holding, and perhaps eating, an object in the shape of a banana (Musa acuminata); the artifact may well date from an epoch during which the prevailing climate was much warmer than at present.  an alternate interpretation suggests yet another link to Egyptian culture.  in either event, further research in warm and sunny climes is urgently needed, preferably a location where they serve tropical beverages with those miniature paper-and-bamboo umbrellas.  note the pierced head, through which is threaded a piece of string of unknown composition bearing a remarkable resemblance to monofilament fishing line; although our ability to undertake further testing has been constrained by inadequate funding, it appears that the proto-Grovites had mastered advanced material production technology.  the reverse is flattened and contains unknown marks which may represent a fragment of proto-Grovite written language - for a detailed view click here.
WG-00-7AV-1 obverse WG-00-7AV-1 reverse source:  collection of Alice Negin

Artifacts	WG-00-McCH-1 (yellow)
	WG-00-McCH-2 (blue)
Provenance	surface finds near McCathran Hall
Material	unknown
Finish	glazed or stained
Dimensions	len: 5.715 x diam. 4.1275 cm (2.25 x 1.625 in.)
Ovoid burial objects thought to have been scattered from a proto-Grovite tomb site.  see also  artifact WG-00-WC-1 Examination of these artifacts reveals the following: these ovoids were constructed from a hard but brittle substance uncannily similar to contemporary polystyrene.  they were obviously intended to protect the contents for the use of the decedent in the afterlife.  note that artifact WG-00-McCH-2, recovered from a squirrel feeding spot. bears grim evidence of the determined efforts on the part of an Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) to gain access to the interior.  when opened, both burial ovoids were found to contain ceremonially wrapped food offerings varying in size from w. 3.175 to 3.81 cm x diam. 1.27 to 1.905 cm (1.25 to 1.75 x 0.5 to 0.75 in.).  these offerings were remarkably well preserved, consistent with other advanced aspects of proto-Grovite technology.  volunteers recruited from the ranks of neighbourhood adolescents for the purpose of testing the samples promptly ate them, pronouncing them "delicious" before we could even distribute the "Guidelines and Protocols for Testing Human Subjects" document and obtain signed consent forms from their parents or guardians.
WG-00-McCH-1 exterior WG-00-McCH-2 exterior WG-00-McCH-1 interior WG-00-McCH-2 interior

Artifact	WG-00-CIR-1
Provenance	surface find recovered from Pacer Farm cottage grounds during leaf clearance activities
Material	unknown - inorganic porous substance
Finish	stained
Dimensions	len. 6.35 x h: 1.74625 (2.5 x 0.6875 in.)
This object was found near artifacts WG-00-CIR-2 and WG-00-CIR-3, suggestive of items scattered from a disturbed burial site.  Its purpose and significance are unknown.
obverse reverse

Artifacts	WG-00-CIR-2
	WG-00-CIR-3
Provenance	surface finds recovered from Pacer Farm cottage grounds during leaf clearance activities
Material	unknown
Finish	glazed or stained also featuring some sort of paint overlay
Dimensions	WG-00-CIR-2: ht. 11.7475 x w: 4.92125 cm (4.625 x 1.9375 in.)
	WG-00-CIR-3: ht. 10.7696 x w: 4.445 cm (4.24 x 1.75 in.)
This pair of fascinating objects emerged in a small area further, suggestive of items scattered from a disturbed burial site.
obverse reverse

Artifact	WG-00-WC-1
Provenance	surface find near the Woman's Clubhouse, recovered during leaf-clearance activities on Arbor Day 2000.
Material	unknown
Finish	glazed or stained
Dimensions	len: 4.445 x diam. 3.175 cm (1.755 x 1.25 in.)
Ovoid burial object thought to have been scattered from a proto-Grovite tomb site.  see also  artifacts WG-00-McCH-1 and WG-00-McCH-2 Examination of this artifact reveals the following: this ovoid was constructed from a hard but brittle substance uncannily similar to contemporary polystyrene.  it was obviously intended to protect the contents for the use of the decedent in the afterlife.  when opened, the burial ovoid was found to contain three ceremonial figurines, which, although slightly deteriorated, were seen as:   a bunniform figure with arms symbolically outstretched, representing reincarnation or a welcome into the afterlife;  a second bunniform figure with elongated ears, thought to represent a trusted retainer sacrificed in order to accompany its master or mistress into the afterlife; and a stylized representation of a carrot, obviously intended to represent a food source in the afterlife.  the rabbitlike shape of the figurines is thought to represent fertility, or a birth-and-death cycle in the proto-Grovite religious beliefs.
these artifacts temporarily removed for conservation WG-00-WC-1 exterior WG-00-WC-1 interior source:  collection of anonymous Grove resident