North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Abstract/Summary:
Project Name: Fort Phil Kearny Historic Site, WY;
Reference: http://www.archaeophysics.com/kearny/index.html (used with permission).
In August 1998 Dr. Lewis Somers of Archaeo-Physics, LLC and Absaraka Cultural Resource Consultants, Inc. (Sheridan, Wyoming), working under contract for LTA, Inc. (Laramie, Wyoming), conducted a geophysical survey of portions of the Fort Phil Kearny Historic Site, in northern Wyoming.
Fort Phil Kearny was one of two forts constructed in 1866 to protect Euro-American interests along the Bozeman Trail (located in present-day Wyoming and Montana). Geophysical survey is one phase of a multi-component project that also includes archaeological investigations of four corners of the fort stockade and the subsequent reconstruction of these features. Geophysical survey was utilized to guide placement of archaeological units and as a management tool for guiding future work at the site.
The Wyoming Department of State Parks & Cultural Resources administers approximately half of the fort site; the remaining half is located on private property. Since very little evidence of the fort exists on the surface, the State developed a master plan that includes provisions for archaeological research and limited site reconstruction for interpretation purposes. The State was awarded a Transportation Enhancement Activities (ISTEA) grant to perform geophysical survey across the state owned portion of the fort site; conduct archaeological excavation of portions of the stockade wall; reconstruct portions of four stockade corners, a gun bastion, and an officer's gate; and place interpretive signs across the site.