Fort Stanwix in Rome gets a lot of attention, but there is another site shrouded in mystery.

Hundreds of years ago, a fort in Rome called Fort Bull was destroyed in the French and Indian War. Somewhere close by, another fort was built, Fort Wood Creek, which was also destroyed. Careful research efforts are underway to learn more about these forts and answer the questions surrounding them.

What You Need To Know

  • Hundreds of years ago, a fort in Rome called Fort Bull was destroyed in the French and Indian War

  • Questions also surround another fort built after its destruction called Fort Wood Creek

  • Researchers are making more discoveries helping them understand the whereabouts of the forts

Fort Bull was strategically built by the British in Rome, serving as a supply depot and protection for the Oneida Carrying Place which was an important land crossing.

The fort was destroyed by the French in 1756 during the French and Indian War.

“This resulted in a vast amount of supplies which were destined for Oswego to be destroyed,"  said historian Arthur Simmons. "The powder magazines exploded. Numerous munitions were dumped into Wood Creek."

The British realized quickly that a fort was still needed in that area and built Fort Wood Creek.

That was also destroyed.

“It was not here for very long and it was burned down at the end of August of 1756," Simmons said.

There is an idea of where Fort Bull and Fort Wood Creek stood, and earthworks to help draw a picture, but historians say the exact locations, especially of Fort Bull, are still a mystery.

That’s where Binghamton University’s Public Archaeology Facility comes in. They are delicately researching the historic grounds and making new discoveries.

“The main goal is to try to identify archeologically a location of Fort Bull in relation to Fort Wood Cree," said John Ferri, the project director at Binghamton University Public Archaeology Facility. "And based on the work we've done, we believe that we found the French musket balls [and] we found exploded grenade fragments. So we're pretty confident that the battle between the French and the British took place at this location that we're at."

Finding these items helps put together a picture outlining the forts, and there is the belief they overlapped.

“We were able to apply a formula based on the weighted musket ball and to a pretty high confidence identify whether they were British or French," Ferri said. "So that gives an idea of troop movements around the area and it gives an idea of possibly who was where, when."

The area being investigated is owned by the Rome Historical Society. It is not open to the public, but the historical society hosts tours.

“It's it's really unique in North America to have a site this well preserved," said Simmons.

Fort Bull/Fort Wood Creek is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places.