The War of 1812 in Southeastern Connecticut: A view from Fort Decatur

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "In Times of War and Conflict: An Exploration of New Sites, Methodologies, and Interpretations at Sites of Conflict in the New England Region.", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

During the War of 1812, U.S. Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur ordered the construction of a small fortification, later known as Fort Decatur in Ledyard, Connecticut. The fort was occupied by the military between 1813 and 1814. Today Fort Decatur is the only intact, purpose built, U.S. Navy fortification dating from the War of 1812 remaining in the United States. During the 2023-2024 field seasons, Heritage Consultants in collaboration with TerraSeach Geophysical completed testing, which included pedestrian survey, metal detection, GPR, magnetometry, high resolution mapping, shovel testing, unit excavation, and photogrammetry of excavated areas and archaeological features. This presentation will discuss the results of this fieldwork including the identification of two military activity areas and remnants of original fortifications; and how the application of archaeological and geophysical survey allowed for the connection of the written record and archaeological remains, expanding our knowledge of Fort Decatur’s history through traditional and non-invasive methodologies.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025   •
• In Times of War and Conflict: An Exploration of New Sites, Methodologies, and Interpretations at Sites of Conflict in the New England Region.

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow