Digital Humanities of the American Revolution fortification at Butts Hill (Portsmouth, Rhode Island)

FAIN: ZZ-309418-25

University of Kentucky Research Foundation (Lexington, KY 40506-0004)
Hugo Reyes-Centeno (Project Director: May 2025 to present)

Archaeological fieldwork at the Revolutionary-era Butts Hill fortification and the creation of on-site exhibit signage and a virtual exhibition in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

This project will conduct non-destructive archaeological imaging analyses of the American Revolution fortification at Butts Hill in Portsmouth, Rhode in order to determine whether subterranean wartime structural features such as military barracks can be identified. Results will then be aggregated with previous archaeological and historical information to realize: (1) on-site storyboard exhibit signage that recounts the history of Butts Hill Fort during wartime, as well as (2) a virtual exhibition highlighting archaeological imaging results, historical maps, and satellite/aerial imagery overlaid with historical text in an interactive on-line interface. The proposed dual approach combining traditional on-site public dissemination content with a wide-reaching digital humanities approach will serve to engage local communities and a national virtual audience in celebrating the success of American Independence leading up to the nation’s semiquincentennial.

Associated Products

Remote Sensing of American Revolutionary War Fortification at Butts Hill (Portsmouth, Rhode Island) (Article)
Title: Remote Sensing of American Revolutionary War Fortification at Butts Hill (Portsmouth, Rhode Island)
Author: MDPI (Basel, Switzerland)
Author: James G. Keppeler
Author: Marcus Rodriguez
Author: Alexander Wise
Author: Samuel Koontz
Author: Philip Mink
Author: George Crothers
Author: Paul R. Murphy
Author: John K. Robertson
Author: Alexandra Uhl
Author: Hugo Reyes-Centeno
Abstract: The Battle of Rhode Island in 1778 was an important event in the revolutionary war leading to the international recognition of U.S. American independence following the 1776 declaration. It culminated in a month-long campaign against British forces occupying Aquidneck Island, serving as the first combined operation of the newly formed Franco-American alliance. The military fortification at Butts Hill in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, served as a strategic point during the conflict and remains well-conserved today. While LiDAR has assisted in the geospatial surface reconstruction of the site’s earthwork fortifications, it is unknown whether other historically documented buildings within the fort remain preserved underground. We therefore conducted a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey to ascertain the presence or absence of architectural features, hypothesizing that GPR imaging could reveal structural remnants from the military barracks constructed in 1777. To test this hypothesis, we used public satellite and LiDAR imagery alongside historical maps to target the location of the historical barracks, creating a grid to survey the area with a GPR module in 0.5 m transects. Our results, superimposing remote sensing imagery with historical maps, indicate that the remains of a barracks building are likely present between circa 5–50 cm beneath today’s surface, warranting future investigations.
Year: 2025
Primary URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/10/430
Primary URL Description: Journal publisher's direct link.
Secondary URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100430
Secondary URL Description: DOI link.
Access Model: open access
Format: Journal
Periodical Title: Heritage
Publisher: Heritage

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