Article: Fort Duffield's past unearthed

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Fort Duffield's past unearthed

by Niki MacKenzie
MESSENGER STAFF WRITER
CONDENSED FROM AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE MEADE COUNTY MESSENGER,
OCT 1, 1997

   Archaeologists and volunteers spent four days last week conducting an archaeological survey of West Point's Fort Duffield in an effort to uncover the past.

   Their focus was to gather information about the buildings which may have been constructed on the site, materials used in
construction and placement of the structures.

   The project was led by University of Kentucky archaeologist Dr. Nancy O'Malley. She was assisted by Dr. Mary Powell, Dwight Cropper, Emily Bernier, and Jennifer Harr.

   The survey settled several issues that were of concern to the Fort Duffield Heritage Committee in their restoration efforts of the fort, according to O'Malley. 

   First there were plenty of good archaeological deposits and artifacts from the Civil war located in the area.

   The second issue settled was regarding a large hole in the middle of the fort. Members of the heritage committee thought the hole could have been an area where Union soldiers store weapons and ammunition. However, the survey revealed the area was actually a cistern.

   O'Malley said the survey also revealed a "nice collection of nails" from where many buildings stood. She said that several soldiers' huts were identified on the south hill of the fort, but more extensive excavation is needed to find where other cabins and the officer's quarters were located.

   O'Malley said Fort Duffield is a well-preserved site for its type.

   "As fortifications go, it's a honey," she said.

   Dozens of volunteers, also donated their time and effort. They spent hours using metal detectors, digging and bagging artifacts to be taken back to the University of Kentucky for study.

    Gary Masterson (ATHS # 1612), chairman of the Ft Duffield Heritage Committee, said the committee wants to restore Fort
Duffield as close to original specifications as possible. The committee estimates that over 10,000 tourists have visited the site since July 1996. According to the register placed at the site, there have been visitors from over 40 states and several countries since July of this year.

   Committee members hope that more tourists will come to see what has been called "the biggest and best preserved earthworks in Kentucky". 

   "We have a secret here that we can't get out." Masterson said.