Grant-Kohrs Ranch: An Archeological Glimpse of the Golden Years

A previously unrecorded household dump was exposed during archeological mitigation of a construction project at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, Montana. The dump is located near the present location of the Coal Shed and extends under the access road toward the northwest corner of the 1890 addition to the main Ranch House. Analysis of the artifacts and stratigraphy in conjunction with the written and oral history of the area suggested two periods of deposition. The lower portion of the dump is believed to date from 1890 to 1899 and the upper portion dates from 1899 to ca. 1915. Together they represent the Ranch at it's maturity. The artifacts also chronicle the sources of supply for pioneer Montana and document changing life styles of the Ranch residents.