Archaeology: What's Hot Now: US Military Features

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US Military Features Jul 28th 2011, 10:00 Bottles, buttons, coins, cartridges, and particularly nails of all kinds--primarily horseshoe and box nails, as well as bridge spikes--were collected during the excavations at the site. Some of the horseshoe nails were fashioned into fishing hooks, a common practice at the time, which confirms reports that the soldiers hunted and fished to supplement their regulation fare. One hearth in the main line had a considerable amount of spike and framing nails averaging approximately 3” long. These were associated with the construction activities of the infantry and may indicate infantry use of that campfire, probably by the 25th Infantry, since a detachment from that regiment accompanied Lebo and Co. K. Near the tent pads fewer materials were found, with the notable exception of several tent pegs still solidly planted into the local bedrock. While their placement suggests the pegs were most commonly used to secure tents, it should also be noted that tent pegs sometimes served to tether horses. Away from the military features, other artifact distributions gave additional clues about camp life. Some artifact concentrations indicated areas where food was prepared and/or consumed and suggested, unsurprisingly, that drinking was a common mode of taking comfort. A particularly interesting artifact distribution was associated with the single-component occupation. In an area downslope from the hearths an abundance of horseshoe nails and horseshoes, as well as chisel-cut iron bar stock, suggest that a blacksmith, apparently using a portable forge, made horseshoes and shod horses there. Long spike fragments found nearby may indicate a corral or at least a place where horses were temporarily tethered. Historical records report that a blacksmith accompanied at least one of the Buffalo Soldier expeditions. Military features of particular interest include hypocausts, or underground heating channels that apparently served to warm several of the tents. These were connected to campfires outside the tents, at least one of which was used for cooking as several can lids were found stashed nearby. Other buried stone boxes, one underneath a hearth in the main row, may also have been used for cooking. The presence of these protected fire features can be attributed to the fierce winds that blow at up to 110 miles an hour here in the cold-weather months. Sources A bibliography has been prepared for this project.

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