Lithic Materials and Fort Bridger

Summary

Beginning in 1983, an ambitious research project was initiated at Fort Bridger. From 1983 to 1989, test excavations and archival research identified the possibility Bridger's Trading Post underlay the enlisted men's barracks constructed in 1888 at the Fort. As a result of the test excavations, a team of archaeologists from Western Wyoming College initiated a long-term research project beginning in 1990. The excavations led by this team focused on the area south of the enlisted men's barracks, where, in 1990, Bridger's Fort and the Mormon Trading Post were discovered. Since 1990, the excavations at Fort Bridger have focused around those two trading facilities and fortifications constructed at this location. During the last 10 years 254m² have been excavated and more than 100,000 historical artifacts recovered. What has come to light in the last two years is, in addition to items made by Euroamericans, thousands of flaked lithic artifacts were deposited in and around Bridger's Trading Post and the Mormon compound. The micro refuse including the flaked lithic materials recovered in the area are helping to better understand where wooden walls once stood at Fort Bridger. The purpose of this paper will be twofold: We will look at the lithic assemblage then discuss lithic materials and historic materials in terms of micro refuse to help us better understand the nature of living spaces at Fort Bridger.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Wyoming Archaeologist 2001

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Contact(s): Marcia Peterson

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