MATERIAL CULTURE
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Shelter and clothing
Historic documents clearly indicate that most of the soldiers lived
in pyramidal canvas tents. The site is largely comprised of rock
alignments that defined platforms for these tents and served as
foundations for other structures.
Additional evidence for the presence of tents came in the form
of several hollow-backed aluminum tent stakes and a tent rope tightener.
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| Hollow-backed
aluminum tent stake, and a tent rope tightener. »Enlarge
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Archaeologists recovered a small assemblage of military uniform
accoutrements, including buttons, buckles, and other fasteners.
Some of the fasteners are associated with specific, standard-issue
articles: one attached equipment to a belt, one belonged to a carrying
bag, and another was used to fasten canvas leggings.
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| Two buckles/slides
and a metal button marked U.S. Army. »Enlarge
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Two of the most significant apparel-related finds at the site include
a U.S. Army Infantry hat device and a possible World War I service
ring. The insignia depicts a pair of crossed 1903 Springfield .30-06
rifles topped by the number twenty-four. An “E” sits
beneath the crossing point. This denotes the E Company of the 24th
Infantry—a historically significant regiment. E company was
one of two African-American infantry regiments in the regular U.S.
Army between 1866 and World War II. A battalion of this company
camped north of the Nogales city cemetery between September 10th
and October 14th of 1917. Perhaps a soldier from this group visited
the 35th Infantry during their time at AZ EE:9:109(ASM), or perhaps
he lost his cap and it was brought into the camp. The sterling silver
ring features two eagles at either end of the band; their extended
wings support a flat, central surface reading “Liberty War
Service.” Researchers suggested that the ring may have been
purchased at a post exchange to mark service in World War I. If
the ring commemorates service in the first World War, it post-dates
the initial occupation of the camp by National Guard units. The
camp may have been occupied as late as 1918, so it is possible that
a soldier who had already served in World War I passed through the
area while the camp was still occupied or sometime thereafter.
Both the ring and the insignia were found in a trash deposit dated
to 1916–1918. A silver chain found with the insignia was later
determined to be unrelated to it.
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| A hat
device from the 24th Infantry E Company, a Liberty War Service
ring, and a silver chain. »Enlarge
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