Ozark Medieval Fortress, Medieval fortress in Lead Hill, Arkansas
The Ozark Medieval Fortress was a reconstruction of a medieval castle in the hills of Arkansas, built using 13th-century construction techniques. The project used local limestone and timber from the surrounding area, with craftsmen working only with tools and methods that would have been available during the Middle Ages.
The project started in 2009 as an experimental archaeology initiative modeled after Guédelon in France. The site closed in 2012 following financial difficulties and the property was later sold.
Workers in period costumes demonstrated traditional medieval construction methods, stone cutting, blacksmithing, and rope making to visitors until its closure in 2012.
The site is located in a rural area north of Lead Hill and accessed via unpaved approach roads. Visitors should note that the fortress is no longer operational and the property is currently under private ownership.
The craftsmen dug a well and opened a quarry to source building materials directly from the site. The project attracted volunteers from several countries interested in medieval construction methods who spent weeks or months working on the build.
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