New Data from the Great Meadows: Geophysical and Archaeological Investigations at Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Summary

Fort Necessity National Battlefield marks the location of the July 3, 1754 engagement between British and Colonial forces led by Lt. Col. George Washington and a force of French soldiers and allied Native Americans.  The day-long battle took place within the Great Meadows, a natural clearing chosen by Washington to centralize supplies and livestock while clearing a road westward through the Allegheny Mountains.  A hastily fortified storehouse referred to as a "fort of necessity" was ultimately surrendered to the French in what is now considered a prelude to the French and Indian War.  The results of recent geophysical and archaeological investigations in the Great Meadows are discussed; conducted to search for historic features relating to the 1754 expedition and ensuing battle, including encampment remains and fortification outworks.  This paper also discusses the applicability of a deductive approach to archaeo-geophysical research design at historic fort and battlefield sites.  

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• From Great Meadows to Petersburg: Battlefield Archaeology in National Parks   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 99