pIpI NaloT ARCHEOLOGY AT KIPP'S POST — WOOLWORTH, WOOD 257 



the trading post apparently was not inhabited for more than about 

 a 5-year period. In a few instances, the rotted post butts had ovate 

 cross sections, indicating that they had been split before being placed 

 in the trench. No hewn post butts were found and the bark had been 

 left on most of them. 



The posts used in forming the stockade ranged in diameter from 

 about 0.3 to 0.8 foot with the average diameter about 0.5 foot. No 

 information exists about the height of these posts though the com- 

 pleted palisade was probably at least 8 feet in height and may have 

 been considerably more. No evidence was found to suggest that the 

 top of the palisade was even or reinforced with a plate. 



Four cross sections (Features 56, 57, 58, and 59) were made of the 

 stockade trench. It ranged in width from 1.3 to 2.7 feet and was 

 1.3 to 1.8 feet in depth. This trench was somewhat irregular and 

 varied in width from point to point (pi. 57, <;?). 



THE ENTRANCE 



The entrance consisted of a break in the southern stockade trench 

 line, which was 9.5 feet across and faced the White Earth Eiver. 

 Posts 0.5 foot in diameter were found on either side of the entrance, 

 within the stockade trench. These posts may have served to support 

 a swinging 2-piece gate. Two other posts (Features 31 and 33) , were 

 found about 5 feet on either side of the entrance and on the inner 

 side of the stockade trench. These probably served to hold the sec- 

 tions of the gate open. The entrance was oriented to the south and 

 apparently faced the river channel at the time the post was built. 

 Fort Berthold I, at Like-A-Fishhook Village (32ML2), was oriented 

 in a similar manner. 



THE BASTION 



The bastion or blockhouse (Feature 2) was a rectangular exten- 

 sion of the palisade or stockade trench in the northeastern corner 

 of the enclosure. It projected about 5 feet outward from the stock- 

 ade trench and was a continuation of this trench. This projection 

 had two faces and two flanks, thus affording enfilade fire along the 

 north and east walls of the post. Only one bastion or blockhouse 

 was found at this post, although two blockhouses, placed at opposite 

 corners of the enclosure, occur at most fur trade posts of this area. 

 The available evidence suggests that this defensive structure was 

 merely an extension of the general palisade and thus did not have 

 a superstructure as was common in the elaborate blockhouses at some 

 fur trade posts. A large, irregular pit (F-12) in the center of the 

 bastion contained charred refuse. 



