Not Just a Walk in the Park: The Urban Archeology Corps at Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

UAC interns working at the radio tower site. NPS.

Archeologists from the Southeast Archeological Center (SEAC) and an Urban Archeology Corps (UAC) team worked in Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park to learn about archeology and survey a site. The UAC is a national program in which interns help NPS archeologists carry out archeological projects. Archeologists trained the UAC interns in basic archeological theory (what is an artifact? what is an archeological site? and what is cultural resource management and why is it important?). They helped interns to examine artifacts and explained how archeologists analyze those artifacts. Then, interns helped archeologists to conduct a Section 106 shovel test survey.

UAC participants learning about Civil War earthworks.

NPS, SEAC

The UAC program has worked with SEAC and CHCH on small archeological projects at the park, such as completing site evaluations or conducting archeological compliance projects. One compliance project took place within the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District around the base of an old radio tower within the park. The radio tower was constructed on top of a Civil War earthworks during the 1950s, but has long since been abandoned and become dilapidated. The park would like to remove the tower in the future and restore the viewshed, as well as add interpretive kiosks at the site where visitors can learn more about the earthworks that once stood there.

Before heavy equipment would be allowed on the site to remove the tower, however, an archeological survey needed to be conducted to determine what, if anything, might remain of the Civil War earthworks. For that reason, SEAC and the UAC dug several shovel tests around the radio tower, but found little to suggest any portion of the earthworks remained intact when the tower was constructed.

UAC participants screening for artifacts

NPS, SEAC

UAC interns spent Monday through Thursday each week working on trail projects, while Friday was an “education day,” during which they participated in archeological activities. Archeologists brought their atlatl, or spear-thrower, demonstration materials to teach participants about early hunting techniques. The atlatl predates the bow and arrow and is composed of a stick or small board with a notch at the end and sometimes an added weight. It allows an individual to throw a spear or dart harder and farther than they could with their bare hands. The demonstration provided a great opportunity to combine a fun, educational event with archeology and learning about the past!