Mapping Fort Decatur: Geophysics and Excavation at a War of 1812 Naval Site
Presented by Dr. David Leslie | Director of Research at Heritage Consultants, LLC
Principal at TerraSearch Geophysical, LLC | Research Scientist with the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Connecticut
During the War of 1812 Commodore Stephen Decatur ordered the construction of a small fortification, later known as Fort Decatur, on Allyn Hill in Ledyard, Connecticut. The fort was occupied by the military for one year between 1813 and 1814. Today, Fort Decatur is the only intact, single-component, purpose-built, U.S. Naval fortification dating from the War of 1812 remaining in the United States.
About the lecture
During the 2023-2024 field seasons, Heritage Consultants, LLC, conducted archaeological investigations, which included pedestrian survey, metal detection, GPR, magnetometry, high-resolution mapping, shovel testing, unit excavation, and photogrammetric documentation of excavated areas and archaeological features. This lecture will discuss the results of this fieldwork, which identified two military activity areas and remnant fortifications. The project applied geophysical methods, which were critical to connecting the written record with archaeological deposits, ultimately expanding our knowledge of Fort Decatur’s history through both traditional and non-invasive methodologies.
About the presenter
Dr. David Leslie is the Director of Research at Heritage Consultants, LLC, Principal at TerraSearch Geophysical, LLC, and a Research Scientist with the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Connecticut. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, his M.A. from Florida Atlantic University, and his B.A. from West Virginia University. His research interests include geophysical applications to archaeology, geoarchaeology, digital photogrammetry, and the historical and pre-colonial archaeology of the Northeastern United States.
Free For Everyone
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For questions about the event or how to register, please contact Tracy Loe ([email protected]) or Sarah Webber ([email protected]).
