North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Abstract/Summary:
Project Name: Geophysical Investigations at Fort Laramie National Historic Site
Reference: DeVore, Steven L. (2004). Conductivity, Resistivity, and Compaction Investigations at Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Goshen County, Wyoming. National Park Service, Midwest Archaeological Center, Lincoln, Nebraska.
During the summer of 2003 as part of the geophysical investigations of the main post of Fort Laramie, three areas were surveyed as part of the National Park Service involvement in the project with the University of Wyoming and Wyoming State Archaeologist's Office. The survey covered portions of the fur trade and early military cemetery, the proposed location of the Ward-Guerrier Trading Post, and the late military cemetery at the modern Fort Laramie Cemetery outside the park boundaries. The conductivity and resistivity surveys in the fur trade and early military cemetery were conducted at high density survey traverses of .25 m across two 20 by 20 m grids with the cemetery between the Hospital and Married NCO Quarters. The results of the two complementary survey techniques indicated the presence of at least three rows of graves associated with the cemetery, as well as, features associated with the military and homesteading periods. The conductivity survey at the Ward-Guerrier Trading Post indicated the locations of foundations and associated trash deposits. The conductivity survey at the modern Fort Laramie cemetery indicated the presence of three rows of graves associated with the late military cemetery. The digital compaction meter survey identified at least three graves. Assessment of the digital compaction meter indicates a high potential for use in the identification of grave locations.