Van Buren in Crawford County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

CSI: Van Buren

Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 9, 2018

1. CSI: Van Buren Marker

Inscription.

CSI: Van Buren. . Using advanced technology to understand the past.. Like the methods of Crime Scene Investigators, science provides a variety of ways to look beneath the surface of the Drennen House grounds for evidence of the past. Techniques like gradiometry, electrical resistance, and ground penetrating radar can paint a picture of what rests below your feet. With technology in hand, Arkansas Archeological Survey staff and volunteers located an assortment of artifacts including some that predate construction of the house. They found evidence of flower and vegetable gardens. Nearby, behind the house, they found a small foundation that suggests the location of an early kitchen or cabin. These discoveries, and each new find, contribute to an evolving portrait of this domestic landscape. , Photo captions Top left: This aerial photo shows the areas of preliminary investigation. Due to interference the archeologists concentrated on the back yard beyond the house towards the top of the photograph and the gardens to the right of the house. Photograph courtesy of Jay Gill. All others courtesy of Arkansas Archeological Survey. , Top middle: Archeologists immediately found large stones (possible foundations) and broken hand-made bricks., Middle left: Rope gridlines were used to map the grounds. This photo shows archeologists using resistivity to find potential features in the ground. This method shoots an electric impulse through the ground to sensors that provide a computer image of the soil. , Middle right: Using the same gridlines, archeologists in this photo are using ground penetrating radar to investigate the ground. Additional computer analysis revealed archeological features. , Middle bottom left: More excavation revealed the stone foundation of a small building. What do you think it might have been? An early kitchen, cabin, smokehouse, shed? , Bottom right: Artifacts from this excavation included an inkwell, door hinge, and the remains of a plate manufactured in England. Other objects found at this site are on display inside the house. The objects suggest the structure predates the ca. 1836 construction of the main house.

Using advanced technology to understand the past. Like the methods of Crime Scene Investigators, science provides a variety of ways to look beneath the surface of the Drennen House grounds for evidence of the past. Techniques like gradiometry, electrical resistance, and ground penetrating radar can paint a picture of what rests below your feet. With technology in hand, Arkansas Archeological Survey staff and volunteers located an assortment of artifacts including some that predate construction of the house. They found evidence of flower and vegetable gardens. Nearby, behind the house, they found a small foundation that suggests the location of an early kitchen or cabin. These discoveries, and each new find, contribute to an evolving portrait of this domestic landscape.

Photo captions
Top left: This aerial photo shows the areas of preliminary investigation. Due to interference the archeologists concentrated on the back yard beyond the house towards the top of the photograph and the gardens to the right of the house. Photograph courtesy of Jay Gill.
All others courtesy of Arkansas Archeological Survey.

Top middle: Archeologists immediately found large stones (possible foundations) and broken hand-made bricks.

Middle left: Rope gridlines were

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used to map the grounds. This photo shows archeologists using resistivity to find potential features in the ground. This method shoots an electric impulse through the ground to sensors that provide a computer image of the soil.

Middle right: Using the same gridlines, archeologists in this photo are using ground penetrating radar to investigate the ground. Additional computer analysis revealed archeological features.

Middle bottom left: More excavation revealed the stone foundation of a small building. What do you think it might have been? An early kitchen, cabin, smokehouse, shed?

Bottom right: Artifacts from this excavation included an inkwell, door hinge, and the remains of a plate manufactured in England. Other objects found at this site are on display inside the house. The objects suggest the structure predates the ca. 1836 construction of the main house.

Erected by University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Notable Places • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.

Location. 35° 26.17′ N, 94° 21.563′ W. Marker is in Van Buren, Arkansas, in Crawford County. Marker can be reached from North 3rd Street, 0.1 miles south of Knox Street, on

Part of the area of excavation can be seen in background. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 9, 2018

2. Part of the area of excavation can be seen in background.

the right when traveling south. Located on the grounds of the Drennen Scott House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 221 North 3rd Street, Van Buren AR 72956, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Gone but not forgotten (within shouting distance of this marker); Van Buren Raid (within shouting distance of this marker); Web of Enterprise (within shouting distance of this marker); Overlooking His Domain (within shouting distance of this marker); The Butterfield Stage Route (approx. ¼ mile away); First Three U.S. Deaths in WWI (approx. ¼ mile away); Crawford County Vietnam Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Crawford County Confederate Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Van Buren.

Also see . . . University of Arkansas - Arkansas Archeological Survey. (Submitted on July 20, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

The rear of the Drennan Scott House is on the left and marker on the right. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 9, 2018

3. The rear of the Drennan Scott House is on the left and marker on the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 276 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 20, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.