Seminole War Military Artifacts Discovered in Fort Lauderdale

The first United States stockade named Fort Lauderdale was built in 1838, and subsequently was a site of fighting during the Second Seminole War. The fort was abandoned in 1842, after the end of the war.

Today, archaeologists discovered a huge of chunk of South Florida history in Fort Lauderdale. Military artifacts dating to 150 years ago have been excavated by Robert S. Carr, executive director of Archaeological and Historical Conservancy Inc. of Davie, w isho leading a team digging the site.

As many Floridians already know, there are dozens of forts in Florida that have never been found, so the discovery of Lead musket balls, a kaolin clay pipe fragment and buttons from soldiers' and sailors' uniforms, is pretty exciting for Florida Heritage.

Carr noted:

"We really didn't expect to necessarily find anything because this park has been so developed over the last 50 or 60 years with parking lots and bathrooms". One the location of the fort has been conformed it may be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. 

"It is exciting, during the 100th anniversary of the city, to find its namesake," said Carr, who hopes to dig up wooden remains of the fort's foundation. "It's the most significant find in Broward County and Fort Lauderdale, and one of the most significant finds in the Seminole Wars era."