Archaeology at William Clark's Canoe Camp on the Yellowstone River

In 1806, William Clark and twelve members of the Corps of Discovery traveled along the Yellowstone River on their return trip by horseback, searching for timber large enough to make canoes. Near present-day Park City, Montana, they found such trees and halted four days to construct canoes, let their horses rest, and prepare for the remaining trip. The location of this camp has been in some dispute for decades. Using extensive site-specific channel migration mapping and geo-referencing equipment, Clark's surveying data, logs, maps and daily journals, in addition to contemporary maps, aerial imagery, and geological analysis, it is now possible to more accurately position Clark's camp with a higher degree of confidence. With financial support from the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, two Foundation chapters, the National Park Service, and Montana State University-Billings, archaeological surveys and excavations were conducted seasonally at the proposed site from 2011-2014.

[@patrickbush9526]

I was lucky enough to catch the Lewis & Clark exhibit in 2004 at Forest Park in
St. Louis there were many artifacts on display from private collection's that will never be on display again. It was truly a once in a lifetime event. I was a long-haul trucker and got a layover. My only regret is I only had one day to visit, but I made every hour count.

[@benjeanettebooth1800]

Wow! This is fascinating stuff. Keep up the great work.

[@richardmourdock2719]

Great stuff! 8/2/19 I am doing a part of the Missouri from the Marias River to Fort Benton. As a rabid Lewis and Clark officiando (think of myself as a "Clarkie") and as a geologist, found this particularly fascinating. Geomorph was never my favorite field of study, but combining the archeology with the geology is great stuff. Hmmm? Maybe next year do the Yellowstone portion???

[@wapiti21]

Thanks for sharing with us, amazing find.

[@douglasturner6153]

I wonder if the June 2022 Yellowstone River Flood washed that Site away? It was at historic levels.

[@constancemiller3753]

Damn.

[@richardmourdock2719]

Clark was an incredible cartographer. I stand amazed at his accuracy. So are you suggesting the mercury is in the latrine.... because it was carried through human waste from a venereal disease treatment??? Any isotopic comparisons of the Hg to other known L&C Hg?????

[@WASRT001]

Mercury was used to treat various aliments but venereal disease was the most common reason for medicinal mercury use. It has been said that practically every member of the expedition (less the two Captains) suffered from VD at some point in time from their interactions with the Native American women. This according to Stephen Ambrose's book "Undaunted Courage".

[@getoffenit7827]

Before the expedition left,There was an 'Apothecary' who made pills that contained Mercury..as noted Mercury was used to treat several different ailments in those days.
The fact that mercury was found doesnt mean everybody had VD
It just means that likely everyone was being given pills with mercury to treat whatever was bothering the men

[@tonylatham5915]

Did you actually see mercury or were their traces?

[@daviderwin9178]

Just think about it... They didn't have WiFi...my wife would have been pissed because there wasn't a Vons nearby

[@johnclark1612]

Well they found gggg grandpa's latrine