North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Abstract/Summary:
Project Name: Grapevine Fortification Site (24BH266), MT;
Reference: DeVore, S. L. (1997). Metal Detection Survey of Site 24BH266, the Grapevine Fortification Site, Big Horn County, Montana. Intermountain Support Office, National Park Service, Denver, Colorado.
On September 15, 1997, personnel from the National Park Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Billings, conducted a metal detection survey of the Grapevine Fortification Site (24BH266) located on the Crow Reservation in Big Horn County, Montana. The survey was conducted as part of a National Park Service initiative for the study of late 19th century Indian Wars battle sites. The site was thought to be the location of a battle between the Crow and Piegan Indians which took place when the resident Crow peoples discovered the intrusive Piegan. The site consists of 23 rock structures located along a small rise or outcrop of rock. The hill drops off rather rapidly to the north and west. A more gradual slope is on the east side while a gentle slope on the south side drops off to the rolling plains south of the fortification site. Below the hilltop, a number of erosional upland drainages cut around the hill providing protection from rifle fire and/or arrows shot from the hill.
Three metal detectors were used during the survey, including a White, a Fisher, and a Bounty Hunter. The entire area of the hill associated with the fortifications was surveyed with a metal detector, including inside and outside the stone fortifications. In addition, metal detector sweeps were conducted from the Piegan fortification site to potential locations of the surrounding Crow warriors. All erosional drainageways that offered protection from fire on the hill were also swept along the facing side and along the back side of the drainageway. With a cartridge related firearms battle, there should be ejected, spent cartridges from the firing of bullets as well as impact zones resulting from the impact of fired bullets from the opposing side. During the sweep of the fortification site, the only materials identified were a couple of beer/soda pop cans, an aluminum pop top from a soft drink or beer can, and a shim from a muffler joint. Along the ridge to the southwest of the site, a .45-60 Winchester Repeating Arms Co. spent cartridge was located approximately 1 inch below the surface of the ground. No other materials were identified during the survey.
Although it is possible that one could thoroughly clean a site of all cartridges and bullets, it seems highly unlikely. It is extremely unlikely that the impact zones in the Crow positions surrounding the Piegan position would have been thoroughly collected. The lack of cartridges and bullets at the Piegans' fortifications and in potential positions of the surrounding Crow warriors suggests that this site was not the location of an 1860s/1870s cartridge related firearms battle. It is also highly unlikely that the fortifications site represents a percussion cap firearms battle site of the mid-1800s. It is possible that the site may represent a pre-firearm battle site, although at the present time there is no physical evidence from the site to indicate the presence of lithic projectile points.