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The Historical Archaeology of Camp Desert Rock

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The Historical Archaeology of Camp Desert Rock UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1996 Atomic age training camp: The historical archaeology of Camp Desert Rock Susan Edwards University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Edwards, Susan, "Atomic age training camp: The historical archaeology of Camp Desert Rock" (1996). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 3273. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/5ybr-yx6m This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter free, vdiile others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Infonnation Company 300 North Zed) Road, Ann Aibor MI 48106-1346 USA 313^761-4700 800/521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ATOMIC AGE TRAINING CAMP; THE HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY OF CAMP DESERT ROCK by Susan Edwards A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology Department of Anthropology and Ethnic Studies University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 1997 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1385171 UMI Microform 1385171 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeh Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The Thesis of Susan Edwards for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology is approved. Chairperson, Claude N. Warren, Ph.D. Examining Committee Member, William G. Johnson, Ph.D. Examining Committee Member, Malvin L. Miranda, Ph.D. Grad date Faculty Representative, Roberta B. Williams, Ph.D. Dean of the Graduate College, Ronald Smith, Ph.D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 1997 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Located in the southeast corner of the Nevada Test Site, Camp Desert Rock was established in 1951 when U.S. military leaders decided American ground troops needed physical and psychological training in the tactics of atomic warfare. For the next six years. Camp Desert Rock was home for the nearly 60,000 soldiers that participated in military maneuvers held during atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. With the end of atmospheric testing, the camp was partially dismantled and abandoned. The focus of this thesis was to identify and describe the material remains of Camp Desert Rock and to test the utility of Robert Schuyler’s historic ethnographic approach for the investigation of Cold War related archaeological sites. A synthesis of three different yet complementary data sets (archaeological, historical, and anthropological) was employed to develop the appropriate context for the interpretation of the camp and to define its place in history. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................ vi LIST OF TABLES ...............................................................................................vili ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................. ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2 METHODOLOGICAL ORIENTATION ...................................... 5 Introduction ......................................................................................... 5 The Growth and Development of Historical Archaeology .................. 6 The Historic Ethnographic Approach ................................................. 13 Methodology ........................................................................................ 25 CHAPTERS HISTORICAL CONTEXT ........................................................... 31 American Postwar Nuclear Policy ....................................................... 31 Establishment of a Continental Test Site ............................................ 32 The Evolution of American Tactical Nuclear Doctrine ........................ 35 Operation Ranger ................................................................................ 38 Operation Buster-Jangle ...................................................................... 41 Exercise Desert Rock I ......................................................................... 41 Exercises Desert Rock II and III ........................................................... 53 Operation Tumbler-Snapper .............................................................. 57 Exercise Desert Rock IV ...................................................................... 58 Operation Upshot-Knothole ................................................................ 68 Exercise Desert Rock V ....................................................................... 69 Operation Teapot ................................................................................ 82 Exercise Desert Rock VI ...................................................................... 83 Operation Plumbbob ........................................................................... 95 Exercise Desert Rock VII and VIII ......................................................... 100 Life in the Camp ................................................................................ 116 Daily Activities ......................................................................... 117 Recreation ............................................................................... 121 Weather .................................................................................. 126 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER 4 ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT ............................................ 130 Physical Description of the Camp ..................................................... 130 Archaeological Remains .................................................................... 164 Service Facilities/Storage Yards ............................................ 165 Motor Pool ............................................................................... 183 Visitor’s Tent A rea ...................................................................... 184 Physical Training Area/Officers Barracks ................................ 185 Headquarters/Administration/Officer’s and VIP Barracks — 186 Outdoor Theater/Recreational Area ....................................... 195 Enlisted Men’s Barracks Area ................................................ 197 Camp Infrastructure ................................................................ 203 CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................... 206 Methodological Evaluation ................................................................ 206 Results ................................................................................................ 213 Directions for Future Research ............................................................. 214 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................ 217 Reproduced
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