Fort McCoy ArtiFACT: Discovery of .30-caliber cartridges, ammunition belt links

Courtesy Photo | Pictured are some .30-caliber cartridges and an ammunition belt found at Fort McCoy, Wis., in 2017. While excavating at a site at the installation, archaeologists recovered 33 .30-caliber blank cartridges and metal ammunition belt links. The .30-caliber blank cartridges had a headstamp of “LC 81.” The headstamp indicates the cartridges were manufactured in 1981 at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo. A few of the metal ammunition belt links had markings as well, including “M13” with a “J” beneath it, an open hole in the metal, and a circle with the crosshairs symbol below it. (Photo by Colorado State University Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands)  

FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

09.22.2017

Courtesy Story

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

Archaeology work has been ongoing at Fort McCoy for more than 30 years. And while digging on an active military installation, it is not surprising for archaeologists contracted by Fort McCoy to come across many military-related artifacts.

Recently, while excavating at a site at the installation, archaeologists recovered 33 .30-caliber blank cartridges and metal ammunition belt links.

The .30-caliber blank cartridges had a headstamp of “LC 81.”

The headstamp indicates the cartridges were manufactured in 1981 at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo.

A few of the metal ammunition belt links had markings as well, including “M13” with a “J” beneath it, an open hole in the metal, and a circle with the crosshairs symbol below it.

In the 1980s, the Lake City .30-caliber blank cartridges would have been shipped linked by M13 links in 100-count cardboard boxes, which in turn would have been packed inside larger metal ammunition boxes for use with the M60 machine gun.

Visitors and employees are reminded they should not collect artifacts on Fort McCoy or other government lands and leave the digging to the professionals.

Anyone who excavates, removes, damages, or otherwise alters or defaces any historic or prehistoric site, artifact, or object of antiquity on Fort McCoy is in violation of federal law.

The discovery of any archaeological artifact should be reported to the Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division Natural Resource Branch at 608-388-4793.

(Article prepared by the Colorado State University Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands and Directorate of Public Works Natural Resources Branch.)

• Date Taken: 09.22.2017
• Date Posted: 09.22.2017 11:21
• Story ID: 249252
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US