Preliminary GPR Interpretations of a Middle Woodland Settlement

Abstract

With the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) archaeologists can use radar pulses to create images of what lies beneath the surface. By using these images, archaeologists can determine where features might lay and where they should focus their excavations. GPR work has been conducted at the Rice Farm site, a prehistoric, Native American settlement located in Dawson County. This presentation aims to display and interpret the preliminary GPR survey conducted at the site in 2018. This survey revealed anomalies half a meter below the surface. After excavating where anomalies were detected, we have uncovered numerous artifacts (mainly pottery) as well as subsurface features that may correspond with Middle Woodland occupation. The data collected by GPR is extremely important because it allows archaeologists to look at patterns in a site and narrow down the best spots to excavate, without damaging the features that it locates. These features and artifacts help contextualize the site temporally and spatially, contributing to plans for future, intensive research-based excavations.

Keywords: Archaeology, Georgia, Geophysics, Middle Woodland, Native