North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Abstract/Summary:
Project Name: Fort Robinson State Park, NE (25DW51-B56);
Reference: Carlson, G.F., Bacon, K., Koch, A., Lambert, S., Sawaged, T., and P. Taber (2001). The Archeology of an 1887 Adobe Barracks (25DW51-B56) at Fort Robinson, Nebraska: Report on the 2000 Investigations. Nebraska State Historical Society. Submitted to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
During the summer of 1999, an electrical resistivity survey was conducted by the Nebraska State Historical Society for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at the location of an 1887 adobe barracks (Barracks 56) at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. This project came about because of the planned reconstruction of the former enlisted men's barracks (demolished in 1923). The survey covered a 2,400 square meter area twice, once in a north-south direction and once in an east-west direction. Several resistance anomalies were identified. There were two areas of high readings (north-south survey) along the west wall of the south extension of the building. An anomaly just outside of the east wall of the south extension was interpreted as a possible pit. A high resistance pattern was detected near the east end of the barracks in both surveys. An isolated anomaly south of the barracks was thought to represent a possible old latrine pit.
Ground truthing excavations were conducted during the summer of 2000. One of the two anomalies along the west wall of the south extension was tested and thought to be caused by a section of well-preserved wooden board, lying horizontally near the surface. The anomaly just outside the east wall of the south extension was indeed a deep pit, probably dug to provide drainage for the bathroom, located directly to the west. The high resistance pattern detected near the east end of the barracks was caused by a concentration of crushed rock, of the type utilized locally for road surfacing. The anomaly located south of the barracks was indeed caused by the remainsof a latrine.