Archeology at the Fort Laramie quartermaster dump area, 1994-1996
Walker DN. 1998. Archeology at the Fort Laramie quartermaster dump area, 1994-1996. National Park Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Division of Cultural Resources. Denver, CO
Archeological investigations conducted at Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Wyoming, in 1994 and 1996 at the 'Quartermaster Depot Dump' mitigated stream bank erosion on archeological resources along the Laramie River. Geophysical remote sensing recorded latest 19th and early 20th century homesteading activities and over 30 clusters of metallic objects. Auger probes between metallic concentration areas showed no major significant artifacts in those areas. A Geographic Information System (GIS) study overlaying historic maps (adjusted for mapping error) postulated historic structure locations. Euroamerican features recorded were a fence/wall section, a postulated livestock stable area and ditches of unknown origin and use. Structural remnants of the 'Adobe Corral' were identified under an elevated irrigation ditch with most the corral eroded into the river in the past 20 years. The terrace immediately next to the riverbank does not contain significant archeological deposits, with dump deposits being discontinuous. Seventeen individual trash dump episodes representing military, household and civilian trade items were tested. Twenty other dumps (?over 60 individual dumping episodes) remain unexcavated but identified by remote sensing. Significant to overall goals was determining no data present showing this area can actually be identified as a 'Quartermaster's Dump.'
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Walker, Danny
- Date of Issue
- 1998-02-01
- Publisher
- National Park Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Division of Cultural Resources
- Units
- FOLA , WRD
- Keywords
- Archeological Sites, Bank stabilization, Clemson, Cultural, Flooding, historic depot dump, Impacts, Laramie River, stream bank erosion, Water Quality, WRBIB