“It’s important to document where the original stockade was located and how life was lived there,” said Bement, “because Fort Gibson played such an important role in Oklahoma history, and because such information can be lost. In 1871, when the post was based on the nearby hill, a railroad was built right through the site of the original stockade. The railroad used a well, which had been dug in the middle of the original stockade, to develop a water tower for the locomotives.”

Domestic artifacts included plate and bowl fragments as well as knives and forks, said Bement. Bones from fish, deer, cattle/bison, chickens and turtles indicate a range of food items consumed by Fort Gibson occupants, he said.

Previous archeological work helped establish the history of sites such as the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah and the pre-historic significance of the Spiro Mounds at the Spiro Archeological Center. These and other archeological projects play significant roles in understanding the development of this land we now call Oklahoma.

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25 years ago

Dr. Frank Evans, Fanny Nation, Cindy Back and former Mayor Volney Howell were judges for the July 4 bicycle parade.

Misty Evans, Froston Back and Brandie Keese were among winners.

Damage from a holiday storm knocked out electricity to more than 720 electric customers. Other damage included a tree being blown over in the yard of the home of Pearl Langston, 201 S. Lee, and the awning blowing off the Ice Cream Palace.