Uncovering a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Structure: Technical Report on Archaeological Excavations Guided by Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Surveys in the Upper Robert H. Treman State Park, New York

Abstract

This article presents the methodology, results and interpretation of ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys and archaeological ground-truthing conducted in the Upper Park area of Robert H. Treman State Park, near Ithaca, New York, in 2022 and 2023. The study aimed to locate the buried remains of a carding and fulling mill that operated between the early and mid-19th centuries in the hamlet of Enfield Falls. By 1920, most of the properties in the hamlet had been purchased by Robert H. Treman and donated to New York State Parks. Subsequently, the landscape was transformed into a park first by park staff and then by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Our study, therefore, addressed two questions: (1) Could archaeological excavations guided by archival and GPR data help establish the location of the 19th-century carding mill? and (2) how do our findings help refine interpretations of the park's history? GPR survey followed by archaeological excavation revealed the presence of a retaining wall constructed by Company 1265 of the CCC between 1933 and 1935. The wall was buried under a layer of sediment when floodwaters inundated the park on 12 July 1935. Despite the absence of any remnants from the carding and fulling mill, this study uncovered new evidence highlighting the CCC's role in transforming a hamlet into a state park. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of combining archival and GPR data to cost-effectively and non-invasively identify potential archaeological excavation sites. Furthermore, our work serves as a case study for archaeologists, conservationists and heritage managers seeking to investigate the anthropogenic factors that contribute to the development of ‘natural’ park sites in the United States and elsewhere.