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

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)