Historical Archaeology Dig Continues at Fort Garland this Summer (05-23-05)
Adams State College Professor of History, Dr. Richard Goddard, is gearing up for the second summer of uncovering hidden treasures at the old fort in present day Fort Garland.
Historical archaeology is distinguished from prehistoric archaeology as the archaeology of a period of time for which written records exist.
"It is a relatively new discipline. Early in the 20th century, historical restoration came of age in this country. Projects like the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown sprang up. However, the restorers quickly discovered that historical documents did not give them sufficient information to accurately interpret or reconstruct such sites. Thus, they turned to archaeologists to help fill in the gaps in the historical record," said Goddard.
The old fort is a good example of such an area. Goddard added, "Other than famous persons such as Kit Carson, few documents have surfaced that tell us much about who was at the fort. Little is recorded about what life in this frontier outpost was really like. There are many questions to address."
As any tabloid reporter can tell you, there is a lot to learn about someone from digging through their trash. Goddard said, "Last year the first location we investigated was a trash dump on the west end of the fort. Trash middens are very revealing about the life styles of the people who created them. The things people discard provide data about their diet, sources of supply, lifestyles, and social statuses."
The Adams State College led dig discovered much about life in the old fort.
"Excavation units were placed at three locations where trash was hauled and dumped. One of the areas excavated seemed to represent dumping of mess hall refuse. It contained many butchered animal bones as well as broken plates and bottles. Another of the areas contained a number of artifacts of a higher quality than usually associated with common soldiers. It also contained artifacts associated with women and children. One early observation that was made in the field was, in the 1870s and 1880s, a wide variety of alcoholic beverages were consumed at the fort. Also by the 1880s, canned foods were a regular part of the fort diet," said Goddard.
While trash dumps contain a great deal of information about life styles, they usually do not contain much information about specific behavior. However, the discovery of one particular set of artifacts was the exception.
Goddard continued, "A set of eight cartridge cases was discovered. These were all 45-70 caliber, early government-issue ammunition intended for use in the model 1873 Springfield rifle, the standard-issue army weapon. Since they were the only cases found in the vicinity, it seems likely that they represent a single shooting episode."
Late in the season, a second trash dumping area was discovered. "Trash deposited at the east end of the fort appears to have accumulated through widely scattered, discrete episodes of trash dumping. Archaeologically, these will be more informative. It will be easier to date these deposits, and it may be possible to connect them to specific groups of people. This summer, this area will be the focus of the investigations," added Goddard.
Besides the trash dump, Goddard and his students uncovered part of a structure that could be the first building at the fort, and the old stable area. The summer of 2005 will continue to explore those and additional areas.
The course will be composed of three 10 day sessions, July 5-14, July 19-28, and August 2-11. Undergraduate and graduate credit will be offered. Tuition and fees are $1550, all necessary equipment will be provided but students are encouraged to bring their own dig kits. Anyone with an interest in historical archaeology can enroll.
For more information contact Adams State College Extended Studies at 719-587-7671 or 1-800-548-6679, or visit the website at:
