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ARCHAEOLOGY AT
WHAT DOES FORT MADISON
REPRESENT?
• First U.S. military fort in the Upper Mississippi River valley.
• Scene of the only true military battle fought in Iowa.
• Only location in Iowa where U.S. soldiers were killed
defending their nation.
• Location where Black Hawk first fought with the U.S.
• Possibly the oldest U.S. military cemetery in the Upper
Mississippi River valley region.
1965 Urban development covered and partially pre-
served portions of the old fort and battlefield under
streets and buildings.
The location of the fort was confirmed in 1965
when archaeological investigations of the fort were
conducted by then State Archaeologist, Marshall
McKusick.
No excavations were conducted in 1965 west
of the fort where outbuildings and the battlefield
were located.
Artifacts recovered from the fort excavations
in 1965.
