New military history research: 18th century Native American fort and US Army Fort Wadsworth

The Spring 2014 issue of American Archaeology reports that a 250 year old Plains Indian fort with apartments and a dry moat has been discovered in Oklahoma.

The fort was built by the Taovaya, a subgroup of the Wichita Indians, and was used to protect them against the Spanish, Apache and Osage.  The apartments were likely used for storage and temporary refuge during attacks. 

The excavation also revealed the location of a 1759 Spanish attack on the Taovaya in retaliation for an attack on the San Saba mission.  Also found were flintlock gun parts, arrow points and other artifacts.  The excavation was led by archaeologists at the University of Oklahoma.

Lithograph of a Wichita Village, probably in Oklahoma, between 1850-1875

 pre 1758 - Hide painting sent to Switzerland from Sonora, Mexico in 1758 by Philipp Segesser (1 September 1689 - 28 September 1762) depicting European and Plains Indian warriors. 

Assumed to represent the 1720 defeat of the Villasur expedition.

Also reported in this issue, is that Hurricane Sandy exposed part of a previously unknown gun battery at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island in New York City.   

Between 1850 and 1900 - New York Harbor - Regatta of the New York Yacht Club...June 8th - The home stretch from the water batteries at Fort Wadsworth.