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Fort Hawkins: History and Archaeology

Author(s)
Report Number
3885
Year of Publication
2007
Abstract

This report documents the historic archaeological investigations conducted at Fort Hawkins (9Bi21) in Bibb County, Georgia. This study was conducted from 2005 through 2006 by the LAMAR Institute, in partnership with The Society for Georgia Archaeology, the Fort Hawkins Commission, and many interested volunteers. The project discovered two distinctive building episodes for Fort Hawkins and explored several buildings, seven palisade lines, midden deposits, and features associated with the U.S. Army fort. The excavation team recovered nearly 37,300 artifacts and well over 6,000 animal bones from the fort. The study also included research of primary documents and a thorough review of secondary histories pertaining to the site. Together, the history and archaeology are combined to tell the "real" story of Fort Hawkins. The report addresses the importance of Fort Hawkins as a U.S. Army Command, Indian Trade factory, U.S. Army garrison, and troop staging area. The report clears up many misconceptions about Fort Hawkins and it provides recommendations for future management of this unique cultural resource.