An Assessment of conditions and factors associated with the potential survival and identification of Cultural Resource Sites at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant.
Cultural Resources Inventory map of the Badger Army Ammunition Plant in Baraboo Wisconsin. In accordance with state and federal regulations, prior to the dispensation of the existing facility, the plant must be assessed for cultural resources and a cultural resource management plan must be approved and initiated for the protection and management of any significant resources identified.
The primary focus of the internship project will have two goals. The first task is produce a coverage map of the 7,353 acre (2,977 hectares) facility, this map will identify and consist of the following elements.
1. A base map of the facility delineating the existing boundaries of the BAAP, as well as the extant buildings and infrastructure ( roads, railroads, power facilities, etc. ) of the plant. The base map may be derived from a DRG map (digital USGS quad) of the plant and immediate vicinity. This base map will also identify topography and existing water resources within the facility boundaries.
An additional layer may also be constructed to differentiate between modern water courses and drainages constructed after the inception of the facility, and relic or historic water courses occuring naturally on the grounds of the facility. The correlation of water resources and the location of Native American archaeological sites is well documented in archaeological literature, and relates to the necessity of those populations to be in proximity to permanent sources of surface water. Prehistoric archaeological resources are primarily located within a distance of 1\3 of a mile of permanent surface water deposits. This information can be derived from the comparison of pre-facility and post-facility USGS quad maps, as well as geologic and soils data.
2. A layer will be constructed to delineate areas of the facility which have already been subjected to cultural resources surveys. Of the 7,353 acre (2,977 hectares) facility 1,240 acres (502 hectares) have already been surveyed. These areas are exempt from further study. This information can be derived from State Historical Society archaeology archives.
3. A layer will be constructed to estimate the extent and degree of disturbance to the grounds of the facility. Areas of significant ground disturbance seriously limit the potential for surviving Native American and Euro American (19th century) archaeological sites. Wisconsin Archaeological Survey (WAS) Guidelines state that areas which can be demonstrated to be disturbed beyond normal agricultural practices do not have to be surveyed for compliance cases. Among the identified areas, three levels of disturbance will be addressed:
A secondary goal will be to develop coverages which identify, locate, and delineate the existing identified cultural resources of the BAAP, both prehistoric archaeological resources and historic Euro- American resources will be identified.
4. A layer will be constructed to delineate previously identified archaeological sites (prehistoric Native American). Prehistoric sites will be identified by type and state codification number. Three previously identified archaeological sites lie within the boundaries of the facility. Two other sites lie in close proximity to the boundaries of the facility. This information will be derived from the State Historical Society Archaeology Archives.
5. A layer will be constructed to delineate Euro American resources on the facility. Euro-American resources from the period ca 1840-1942, may represent the most significant resource of the facility. Well over 100 structures are associated with the area prior to the development of the BAAP in 1942. These include homesteads, houses and farms, municipal and commercial structures, schools, churches, and cemeteries. An effort will be made to associate structure locations with dates, and the type of structure. This information will be derived from historical plats and records, as well as BAAP archives.
The Euro-American resources will be further assessed in terms of the relative importance of the sites (early sites taking precedence over later sites). As well as the type of site, residences vs commercial, ecclesiastical, and municipal site locations. Barns and outbuildings typically offer little potential in regards to statified cultural deposits. Residences offer a greater potential for locating stratified cultural deposits, and commercial site locations (blacksmith shops, stores, inns, etc) often offer the potential to sample broader aspects of local life and the economy.
The result of this internship will serve as an aid in the identification of areas of the facility which need to be surveyed for cultural resources. Eliminate areas of the facility which have already been subjected to survey, and identify areas of extreme disturbance (which hold little potential for surviving cultural resources). The resulting document will also serve to prioritize the areas of the facility which remain unsurveyed. The map will also serve to identify the existing resources of the facility, as well as offering some insight as to their relative importance.