North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Abstract/Summary:
Project Name: Fort Buford, North Dakota
Reference: Johnson, W.J., D.W. Johnson, G. Gozdzik (2001). Geophysics Comes of Age in North American Archeology. Paper Presented at Society of American Archaeology, 66th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 18-22, 2001.
Near the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers on the plains of North Dakota, lies Fort Buford a 19th century military post. The fort was occupied from 1866 until 1895, and housed infantry and cavalry units. The fort also imprisoned Chiefs Sitting Bull, Joseph, Gall and Corn King during its history. Today, the only remaining structures of the fort are a post cemetery, stone powder magazine, and officer's quarters.
During May of 2000, Midwest Archaeological Center archaeologists conducted a magnetometer survey in an attempt to locate the former enlisted barracks. The weak magnetic anomalies that would be indicative of the barracks were masked out by the strong readings of metallic scrap, such as nails, straps, etc.
Hemisphere Field Services (HFS) archaeologists, who used electrical resistivity instruments, conducted an additional survey. The resistivity survey was more conclusive since metal fragments are less intrusive in resistance images. The survey successfully located the enlisted barracks, mess hall, and other structures. Excavations confirmed the location of the barracks and the mess hall, but other anomalies are still to be confirmed by testing. The survey also shows an anomaly for a possible sink (latrine), which is visible on historic maps.