Archeological Investigations of the 1874 Cavalry Barracks, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Wyoming

The Fort Laramie Cavalry Barracks was constructed in 1874 and continuously occupied until the National Park Service began interpretation of its history. A restoration effort required mitigative excavations in the building's interior and along the west side. Over 5,000 artifacts were recovered that physically document the changing uses of the building through time.
Several features were identified that relate to the use of the site since at least the early 1860s. The foundations of a structure predating the barracks were discovered beneath the floor. The probable area where the lime concrete was mixed for the wall construction was identified. The barracks washroom dry sump was excavated, and a late military period or early civilian period trash pit was sampled.