Geophysical Investigation Methodology

The geophysical investigation consisted of magnetic field gradient, electrical resistance, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey over a sizeable area with the potential of containing buried and intact cultural resources.

Magnetic Field Gradient Survey

Magnetic survey was completed over 13,500 square meters of the site. The survey was completed using a Geoscan Research FM 256 fluxgate gradiometer. The fluxgate gradiometer records the vertical gradient of the earth's magnetic field at a point near the surface of the earth. Data were collected in linear transects spaced 50 cm apart. A measurement of the vertical gradient was recorded every 12.5 cm along each transect, resulting in an overall data sample density of 16 samples per square meter.

Electrical Resistance Survey

Resistance survey was completed over 15,300 square meters of the site. The survey was completed using a Geoscan Research RM 15 electrical resistance meter in twin-probe configuration. The distance between the mobile probes was 50 cm and the distance between the remote probes was 100 cm. A potential of 40 V was used to apply a 1 mA current. Data were collected in linear transects spaced at 1 m, with 2 samples per linear meter collected along each transect. This resulted in an overall data sample density of 2 samples per square meter.

Ground Penetrating Radar

GPR survey was completed over one 20 x 20 m square grid (400 square meters). The survey was completed using a Sensors & Software pulseEKKO 1000 GPR system operating at a center frequency of 450 MHz. Data were collected in linear transects spaced at 50 cm, with a GPR trace collected every 5 cm along each transect. This resulted in an overall data sample density of 40 GPR traces per square meter. The resulting 3-D GPR data set can be explored in the interactive data exploration tool provided above.

From March 9-13, 2001 a crew of six archaeologists conducted ground truthing of a sampling of those geophysical anomalies identified as possible cultural features. The grid coordinates of the center point of these anomalies was digitized. The azimuth and distance from the local site datum was calculated, and these points were marked on the ground with a wooden stake using an electronic total station.

Systematic coring was completed using Oakfield probes with a 2.54 cm (1 inch) barrel by teams of two field technicians (i.e., one corer and one recorder). Coring strategies varied depending on the nature of each anomaly, although cores were minimally excavated in linear transects perpendicular to anomalies that were linear in shape and in + shaped transects centered on point target anomalies. The distance between individual cores varied from 1 m to 25 cm.

Several anomalies which were cultural in origin, but whose overall size and shape could not be determined through coring were selected for more extensive excavation by shovel tests, test units, or hand dug trenches. The size of these hand excavations varied from 50 cm x 50 cm to 50 cm x 200 cm. These units were excavated in arbitrary 10 cm levels using shovels and trowels. Shovel tests and test units were screened through 6 mm mesh and cultural materials were collected. Sediments excavated from trenches were not screened.

A total of 26 geophysical anomalies were tested during ground truthing, with 18 of these confirmed as buried archaeological features. Although in some cases it was possible to guess the function of the buried features from this limited invasive testing, in most cases more extensive excavations were required to definitely identify the buried resources.

aerial view of 2003 block excavations in progress

Block Excavations During the 2003 Field Program

During the summer of 2003 CAR research archaeologists and University of Oklahoma archaeologist Dr. Susan Vehik conducted block excavations at the "East of A" site. Two excavation blocks were placed over geophysical anomalies that hand coring results suggested may represent buried subterranean pit houses.

Both excavation blocks revealed deeply buried pit houses that differed considerably from the more well know stone slab architecture the Buried City locality is known for. Three calibrated radiocarbon dates were obtained from samples collected from the floors of these houses. These dates ranged from A.D. 1280 +/- 50 to A.D. 1300 +/- 40. A fourth radiocarbon date was obtained from charred wood recovered from the burned structure encountered in Shovel Test #6. This sample returned calibrated dates of A.D. 1310, 1370, and 1380 (the calibration curve crossed three possible dates).

Conclusions

Analysis of these data is ongoing, but the research program sponsored by CAR has unequivocally shown the Buried City peoples to have occuppied subterranean pit houses. More research is necessary to determine whether the pit houses pre-date the stone slab architecture, or if these two types of structures were inhabited concurrently.