An Archaeological and Historic Resources Inventory of McGuire Air force Base, New Jersey

Summary

An inventory and evaluation of archaeological and historic resources was undertaken by Argonne National Laboratory at McGuire Air Force Base, which occupies an area of 3,536 acres within the New Jersey Pinelands in Burlington County, New Jersey. Five off­base facilities totaling 246. 78 acres were also included in the inventory. Existing site files and reports, historic records and maps, aerial photographs, and other sources were consulted for background information on the base and surrounding area. A field survey was conducted in March 1994, consisting of a pedestrian survey and shovel-testing. World War II structures and one Cold War structure were also documented. Results from the base-wide archaeological investigations include evidence of 11 historic archaeological locations (10 on the base proper and 1 at the Approach Lights). No prehistoric remains were encountered. Field investigation incorporated the cultural "resource sensitivity areas defined by the National Park Service (Herbert and Grumet 1993) and refinements to these areas by Argonne National Laboratory documentary research. Additional investigations were devoted to examination of other documented historic site locations outside the sensitivity areas. One historic structure, the SAGE building, was determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (National Register) based on its role during the Cold War. Data recovered from 8 of the 11 historic locations identified in the survey indicate the potential for significant archaeological remains. The 8 historic sites include locations 9, 10, 29, 31, and 46; 1 site in the area of historic location 1-6; the Approach Lights site; and the North Run refuse midden. It is recommended that these eight sites be protected from any growid-disturbing activities until further archaeological· testing is completed to fully evaluate their potential for New Jersey Pinelands Commission designations or for inclusion on the National Register.

Site designations were not warranted for the other three locations (42, 49, and 50). No further work is recommended for these three locations because of their extent of surface disturbance and the lack of subsurface artifacts; they are not considered eligible for the National Register.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• McGuire Air Force Base Archaeology and Cultural Resources Archive

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Air Force Base

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