The Documentation, Interpretation, and Partial Restoration of Civil War Era Forts on the Lower Cape Fear River: Common Archaeological Threads from 50 Years of Investigations

Thomas E. Beaman

The Documentation, Interpretation, and Partial Restoration of Civil War Era Forts on the Lower Cape Fear River: Common Archaeological Threads from 50 Years of Investigations

Year: 2015

Summary

Located in southeastern North Carolina, Wilmington was one of the most active trans-Atlantic ports for Confederate blockade runners during the American Civil War. Second only to Charleston, it was also the most heavily fortified port on the Atlantic Coast. Four primary forts—Johnston, Caswell, Fisher, and Anderson—were seated along the Lower Cape Fear River between Wilmington and the Atlantic Ocean to protected the port and its brisk trade of blockade running. While early investigations began during the centennial anniversary of the Civil War, the current sesquicentennial commemorations have led to renewed archaeological interest at these sites. This study will summarize the past 50 years of archaeological research at each fort. Each will be considered individually as to the purposes of projects, and the overall results will form a collective summary of the common threads that have and continue to guide archaeological exploration at these sites.

Cite this Record

The Documentation, Interpretation, and Partial Restoration of Civil War Era Forts on the Lower Cape Fear River: Common Archaeological Threads from 50 Years of Investigations. Thomas E. Beaman. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, Seattle, Washington. 2015 ( tDAR id: 433766)