Searching for Cochise: The 2015 Archaeological Survey for an Apache Campsite associated with the Bascom Affair

Summary

In the winter of 1861 an event took place between the U.S. military and the Chokonen band of Chiricahua Apache under the leadership of Cochise that intensified Apache-U.S. military hostilities for another 10 years. This paper presents the initial pedestrian and metal detector survey results from the Bascom Affair project. Archaeologists utilizing metal detector surveys at military sites have met with great success (e.g., Adams 2000a, 2000b, 2001; Laumbach et al. 2001; Ludwig and Stute 1993; Scott et al. 1989). Adams (2001:110) has suggested that the metal detector is one of the most important tools used today in discovering and defining Apache sites, especially at shallow depths. Use of metal detectors also minimizes disturbance of the land, including the potential for disturbing other sub-surface archaeological remains. Furthermore, because the project employed a "Least Impact" research strategy – based upon Apache tribal best management practices, the use of a metal detectors minimizes the usual site damage in terms of excavation and other forms of destructive data collection methods. Moreover, integrative approaches to such research projects involving tribal descendent communities is imperative to form more complete understandings of historical-period Apache life-ways.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage