BoRIA Secures $71,749 Grant from van Beuren Charitable Foundation for Continued Archaeology at Butts Hill Fort

The Battle of Rhode Island Association (BoRIA) has been awarded a $71,749 grant from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation (vBCF) to support Phase 2 of archaeological work at Butts Hill Fort. This project, scheduled for 2025, will be led by Dr. Alexandra Uhl of Stonehill College along with her students.

This grant builds upon the foundation’s previous support of $25,000 for Phase 1 work conducted in the summer of 2024. The findings from the initial phase are expected to be published in early 2025, providing valuable insights into the fort’s history.

The primary objective of this research is to enhance our understanding of Butts Hill Fort’s construction and evolution. The study aims to uncover details about the fort’s initial building by American forces, subsequent modifications by British troops, and its final configuration by Rochambeau’s French engineers in 1780-1781. Remarkably, despite being abandoned in 1783, approximately 80% of the fort remains intact today.

Dr. Uhl, the lead archaeologist for the project, expressed her enthusiasm: “This continued support from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation allows us to delve deeper into the rich history of Butts Hill Fort. Our work will not only contribute to academic knowledge but also help preserve an important piece of Rhode Island’s Revolutionary War heritage. My students and I are excited to share the knowledge gained through this work with the community by enhancing visitor experiences and through outreach events.” Dr. John Robertson, an expert of RI’s Revolutionary War defenses, and Dr. Robert Selig, an expert on comte de Rochambeau, will be consultants on this project.