The Mound City Archaeological Society is sponsoring a volunteer archaeological
excavation in Pilot Knob, Missouri on October 18 and 19, 2003. The project is
the investigation of a Civil War and later site on the property of the Immanuel
Lutheran Church. The church was constructed in 1861 by German Lutherans. It was
used as a Federal Headquarters telegraph station during the war, and also as a
hospital during the Battle of Fort Davidson in 1864. The Fort Davidson State
Historic Site is located just a few blocks away. It is thought that Federal
entrenchments reached the area of the church, though there is no verification of
this, and the church is also near the location where the Federal garrison
gathered for their silent night escape, ending the battle.

The church still has all its original construction, with the exception of
electrical wiring. The interior is all original, complete with blood stains in
one or two of the back rooms, and two organs dating to the 1830s and 1870s (the
1870s organ is still in use). It also has the original school room, complete
with original desks, text books, “calculator”, and other various school related
items. To walk into the church is to step back in time.

We can arrange for a guided tour of the Fort Davidson State Historic Site by the
park staff on Sunday afternoon. We recommend staying at the Fort Davidson Motel,
located directly across the street from the fort (the park ground make for a
nice early morning stroll, usually complete with fog in the Fall for that
“spooky battlefield” effect. The phone number is (573) 546-7427 and I suggest
you ask for Tim, but anyone can help you. Rooms at the motel are around $50 to
$55 per night. As of this morning, they still have some rooms available, but I
recommend booking as soon as possible. They also have a very good restaurant
right next door with wonderful pies. There is another motel in town, but I do
not know the name. There is a McDonalds and Subway in town too. Fall colors
should be out at this time as well. Pilot Knob is a beautiful place to visit in
the Fall.

The dig site has a modern building on it, complete with running water, toilets,
a coffee maker, microwave, full kitchen, tables and chairs, etc. It really is as
comfortable as a dig can be. The previous excavations uncovered wonderfully
intact cultural stratigraphy, with some Civil War items (a Minnie Ball, carved
wood die fragment), and many types of historic ceramics, glass ware, and animal
bone.

We hope to find more direct evidence of the battle in this part of town this
year. We will excavate 1x2 meter units at arbitrary 10cm levels. How many units
we excavate will depend upon how many excavators sign up. Also, next year, we
may try to excavate on the actual battlefield. Those plans will be directly
impacted by the volunteer turn-out this year.

Excavators should commit to at least a half day. Screeners and bystanders can
volunteer for as long as they want. Excavators must be at least 12 years old.
Children must be supervised at all times. If they have them, excavators are
welcome to bring their personal dig kits (i.e. trowels, brushes/hand brooms,
etc.). Other equipment such as shovels, bags, markers, line levels, screens,
etc. will be provided.

At the moment, the five-day forecast is promising, but I advise everyone to call
me around mid-day this Friday, October 17, to confirm the status of the
excavation.

If you would like to volunteer or if you need more information, please call me
at the number below. If you get my voice-mail, please leave a short message
(including your call-back number!) and I'll get back to you just as soon as I
can.

Hoping for good weather and a good turnout this weekend,

Greg Paulus
Mound City Archaeological Society President

(314) 704-3507
bgpaulus@...