Soldiers’ Diet at Valley Forge: An Analysis of the Faunal Remains from the 2000 Excavation Season

Abstract

The 2000 excavation season at Valley Forge National Historical Park focused on the excavation of huts and other features associated with the 1 st and 2nd Pennsylvania Brigades, In addition to a rich and diverse assemblage of Revolutionary artifacts, the 2000 excavations produced a sizable collection of animal bone remains. Most of the faunal remains were recovered from features associated with the enlisted men's huts. Both historical sources and the recently excavated faunal remains indicate that the Pennsylvania brigades were provisioned with beef, pork, and small quantities of fish. This paper presents the results of the analysis of the faunal remains from the 2000 excavation season.