The Archaeological Evidence

The Archaeological Evidence. . No contemporary maps or drawings of Ashby's Fort have survived, so the best way to learn more about the layout, construction and life at the post is through archaeological excavations. George Washington's orders regarding the fort's construction do provide archaeologists with excellent clues about what to look for. For example, Washington ordered Lt. John Bacon to: , , ...direct them in building a Quadrangular Fort of Ninety feet, with Bastions. You will direct them in what part of the Fort to build their Barracks, and the most convenient part for a Magazine." , , Archaeological discoveries essential to understanding the fort's layout and construction include four vertical post-filled stockade trenches and dark linear stains left from three of the four horizontal log corner bastions. The archaeology shows that the stockade walls were composed of round or split vertical logs with larger and more deeply buried squared logs at their ends, which connected to the horizontal bastion logs. Linear stains found within two of the bastions are likely from floor supports, room dividers, and/or firing platform supports. These stains provide evidence that the bastions had open rooms, which may have been used as troop barracks, stables, or storage areas.