Though War, Peace, and William Peace: The Archaeological Investigation of Fort Caswell

Summary

Fort Caswell has stood for nearly two centuries as a haunting reminder of the strategic importance of the Cape Fear River and the port of Wilmington in southeastern North Carolina. While much of the original 1826-1837 brick and mortar fort are still standing, key architectural features of the fort, and its unwritten history, lie hidden beneath the sand. Since its construction, the site has seen several phases of modification, abandonment, and reuse. The first archaeological research was conducted on the fort by the 2013 William Peace University Archaeological Field School. This presentation will summarize the goals of the research, provide an overview of the findings, and discuss prospects for future investigation. While findings from all periods of the fort history will be discussed, specific attention will be given to archaeological identification of features that dated to the fort’s original construction and use, and to the American Civil War.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Blood, Sweat and Tears: New Research in Military Archaeology   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-15,03