Detecting the 1862 U.S. Military Post at Sauk Centre

Short Term:
1) Completion of the site mapping grid over our proposed research area. 2) Completion of the metal detector survey of the over the proposed project area. 3) Completion of the archaeological shovel testing and limited archaeological test excavations. 4) Completion of the laboratory processing of all recovered archaeological materials.

These targets were achieved.1) We successfully laid out the site mapping grid to facilitate the systematic metal detector survey, archaeological shovel testing, and archaeological test units. 2) We successfully located "positive" metal detector hits indicative of possible artifacts, artifact concentrations, and features associated with the U.S. Military Post at Sauk Centre. 3) We successful excavated 2 archaeological shovel tests over suspected artifacts, artifact concentrations, and cultural features. This included the collection of all archaeological materials within shovel tests and the complete documentation of each fully excavated shovel test. We successfully excavated 4 test units to expose cultural features potentially associated with the U.S. Military Post at Sauk Centre. This included the collection of all archaeological materials within each test unit and the complete documentation of each fully excavated test unit. 4) We successfully transported all recovered archaeological materials back to the Archaeology Laboratory at SCSU. We successfully washed, sorted, and identified all recovered archaeological materials.

Intermediate Term:
Analysis of the metal detector and archaeological data recovered during Phases One, Two, and Three of the project in order to assess the findings of the investigations.

This target was achieved. We believe we have successfully interpreted the metal detector and archaeological data and that these data indicate the presence of cultural deposits related to the U.S. Military Post at Sauk Centre. We believe that these data aid us in gaining a better understanding of the construction, layout, and use of the U.S. Military Post at Sauk Centre. For example, we believe we have successfully located activity areas associated with the barn/commissary and Officers' Quarters of the Sauk Centre Post.

Long Term:
1) That the local community will derive ongoing educational and cultural benefits from the findings of this project. 2) That the project will result in long-term research (3 -5 years) at the site of the U.S. Military Post at Sauk Centre, including a possible NRHP assessment of the site.

These targets have been partially achieved. 1) The local community does support future archaeological investigations at the site. We believe that the local community will continue to protect and preserve the cultural resources associated with the U.S. Military Post at Sauk Centre and that the local community will actively include the site in any efforts to promote the history and cultural heritage of Sauk Centre. 2) There are tentative plans to undertake additional and expanded archaeological investigations at the site, especially in areas where STP and test excavations have indicated the presence of archaeological features. Future investigations could include the teaching of an archaeological field school at the site and/or using the site as a basis for research topics and questions related to additional Master's thesis projects. In addition, such excavations would be necessary to determine the nature and extent of the cultural features recorded at the site as well as their association with the U.S. Military Post at Sauk Centre. These investigations would be necessary in order to determine if the site is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The results of this project will also result in the continuation of scholarly presentations at local, regional, and national archaeological conferences as well as the publication of research findings in state, regional, and national archaeology journals.