Research Experiences for Undergraduates
In the 2000 field season the project was fortunate to have Dr. Kenneth Kvamme of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, a leader in the field of remote sensing, conducting geophysical testing at the site. Dr. Kvamme employed three methods of testing: soil electrical resistivity, magnetic gradiometry, and ground penetrating radar. The data collected from these tests have been used to locate both subsurface features, such as stone foundations or formations, packed earthen living surfaces or cellars, and also material concentrations such as iron. The preliminary results from the resistivity and the magnetometry surveys were used in directing the excavation plans that year, while the complete surveys and interpretations were tested for "ground truth" in 2001, by precisely locating a number of features within the mapping grid previously established.
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The above figure show the resulting electrical resistivity data (left) and magnetic gradiometry data (right). In the resistivity data, dark areas indicate high resistance to electrical current (for example, stone) while light areas indicate low resistance (water or sandy backfill). In the magnetic gradiometry results, strongly magnetic (usually iron) objects are indicated by paired extreme light and dark areas, while less strongly magnetic fired materials or ferrous soils are indicated by subtler gradations of grey.
More results of Dr. Kvamme's work can be viewed on his Sylvester Manor project results page, as well as other of his projects through the Center for Advanced Spatial Technology at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.