Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology
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Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology
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Field work in the summer and fall of 2005 was conducted by students
in an SOU field school and volunteers from a program run by SOHS and included
the excavation of 130 square meters. Several building foundations
were identified and an assemblage of mid-nineteenth century artifacts and
faunal remains were recovered. The foundation of the fireplaces from
the post hospital and the officer's kitchen were uncovered, as well as a
midden of food debris and possible an officer's privy. Another foundation
with associated military artifacts was discovered that was not described
in any of the architectural plans drafted by Captain Smith. The archaeological
and documentary evidence indicate that the post buildings were constructed
with fir logs set on granite piers with clapboard shake roofs, plank floors,
and porches. The fire places were constructed of non-local granite
stones with brick chimneys. 
Left: Excavations in progress on the officer's kitchen, fall 2005.
Below: Liza Tran and Kay Shelnutt during the excavation of one of the Fort foundations, summer 2005. 
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Above: standardized buckles, possibly from horse tack or haversacks. Scale in all photos is in centimeters. All photos from the Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology. Below: lead shot, including .69 caliber musket ball, possibly for the Springfield U.S. Model 1847 smoothbore cavalry musketoon used by the 1st Dragoons. 
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Iron arrowhead found near the enlisted men's
quarters. The Rogue River Indians at the time of the Rogue River war
were using firearms as well as iron-tipped arrows.
Standardized metal buttons were found throughout the Fort. Dragoon uniforms had buttons embossed with eagles, and these probably represent underwear buttons. |
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Right: The foundation to the fire place at the
Fort Lane Hospital. Much of the stone and brick from the Fort has
been scavanged over the years.
Below: An 1854 U.S. silver quarter recovered from one of the Fort buildings. The coin was cut with hot iron for use as a spur, and later one tang broke off, probably through use. |
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Left: The foundation to the fireplace of
the officer's kitchen. |
Right: Shovel test pits were used to identify
a midden of ash, animal bone, and refuse behind the officer's kitchen.
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The midden is a thin sheet of debris set several meters back behind the kitchen. The photo at left shows the surface of this midden exposed in an exacavation unit. The photo and profile below show this excavation after the midden fill was removed. The excavation appears to have intersected the edge of a pit filled with debris; possibly a privy. |
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The Fort Lane Archaeology Project Fort Lane: Historic Context Fort Lane: Research Fort Lane: The Jennison Cabin |
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