North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Abstract/Summary:
Project Name: Fort Clatsop National Memorial, OR;
Reference: Weymouth, J. W. (2001). The Integration of Four Seasons Magnetic Surveys at Fort Clatsop National Memorial. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska. Submitted to the Fort Clatsop National Memorial, National Park Service, Astoria, Oregon.
Lewis and Clark and the Corps of discovery reached the Pacific Ocean in November 1805. They constructed a fort to winter over and named it Fort Clatsop after the local Indian tribe. In March 1806 they left the fort for their return trip to the east.
In 1899 The Oregon Historical Society tried to find the site of the Fort and purchased 3 acres of land that presumably contained the site. In 1955 the society built a replica of fort Clatsop. In 1958 the site became the Fort Clatsop National Memorial, National Park Service. Also of historical interest is that a Mr. Shane built a house in the vicinity of the fort in the 1850's. Later in 1872 William Smith built a house the site of which we now believe is south of the fort reconstruction. In 1948 Luis Caywood excavated a few trenches and pits, finding some fire pits but no conclusive evidence of Lewis and Clark. In 1956 and 57 Paul Shumacher dug a series of trenches south, west and east of the fort reconstruction. He located several fire pits. He also found a large amount of 19th century home and farm material in the vicinity of where we now believe was the Smith house. As in the case of Caywood he did not find any positive evidence of Lewis and Clark.
In 1996, as part of a general archaeological study of the fort site, Ken Karsmizki of the Museum of the Rockies initiated a program of magnetic surveys of the site in the vicinity of the fort reconstruction. This method reflects changes under and near the soil surface. In addition the method is completely non-destructive. That survey program was continued in 1997, 1998 and 1999. A number of anomalies were revealed by the magnetic surveys that were interpreted as a water line that leads to a hydrant, the fireplace of the Smith house, a path, several of Schumacher's trenches, a possible house foundation line, and the possible location of the Shane house.