Archaeological Prospection

On all types of archaeological survey: geophysics, prospection, and remote sensing.

Geophysical surveys, Castles, Ice Cream and Sun

Geophysical surveys, Castles, Ice Cream and Sun

Archaeological Prospection ⋅ July 22, 2014
The archaeology of early tourism in the Swiss Alps

The archaeology of early tourism in the Swiss Alps

Or how a short survey of archaeological remains in the Grindelwald area (Berner Oberland) shows that not only modern but also 18th and 19th century tourism left traces in the land-scape. In my job at the Archaeological Service of the Canton of Berne I don’t get to do much field-work these days. I do however … Read More →

Archaeological Prospection ⋅ July 14, 2014

A Third Day In The Life (Of An Archaeological Geophysicist)

Wow, time has flown. This time last year, I was doing radar work in Ballarat on gold mine … Read More →

Archaeological Prospection ⋅ July 14, 2014
Arghhh, please, not one of THOSE days!!

Arghhh, please, not one of THOSE days!!

Archaeological Prospection ⋅ July 12, 2014
  • We got flooded out by the return of the tide and have to wait until tomorrow to find out more about our buried site. We will head back out at first light, with more shovels and hoses! Wish us luck!
  • Brick, wood, and ferrous metal was exposed about a foot down, leading us to believe that we found our buried (and submerged) homestead!
  • When the remains of a building began to come up in the sand, we used the screening station hose to carefully remove the non-cultural bay sediment and expose the feature. A series of ditches were used to control the flow of the water away from the feature. We were even able to channelize the water above the feature so it would help us remove the fluffy sand and silt on top of the archaeological deposits.
  • Even with the minus tide, flooding in the unit forced us to come up with a Plan B. Since we could not avoid or eliminate water from the unit, we decided to work with it, rather than against it.
  • Buckets of sediment removed from the units was taken over to the water screen station to be sifted through 1/8-inch mesh screen. Wet, messy work, but the most effective way to process the muck.
  • A baby clam!! (don’t worry, we put it back safe and sound!)
  • We were a little optimistic about how dry it would be out on the mud flats, and found out real quick that square holes just weren’t going to happen in the soggy mud. We also found….
  • We used driftwood to create wooden pathways that would allow us to move around in the quicksand-like mud. A boat was equipped with a pump, allowing us to use water to screen the excavated material recovered from the units.
  • The view from our office today. SOULA archaeologist Katie Johnson is using a hand held GPS unit to identify the precise location of the former historic buildings on the site.

Archaeology on the Oregon Coast

Archaeological Prospection ⋅ July 12, 2014

Archaeology from a Navajo Archaeologist

Ya’ at’eeh (Hello) from the northern portion of the Navajo Reservation.  Finally inhouse after a long week in … Read More →

Archaeological Prospection ⋅ July 12, 2014
Trench notes from Petras

Trench notes from Petras

Archaeological Prospection ⋅ July 11, 2014
  • Colleagues on North Rona
  • The chapel and lighthouse on the Flannan Isles
  • Gordon Childe, a Commissioner at RCAHMS for 4 years, in Edinburgh.
  • George 'Stonekicker' Geddes
  • George thinks his colleagues are surprising...
  • Measured survey drawing on the Flannan Isles
  • George with GPS, on Rum

In Search of Rocks and Stones

Archaeological Prospection ⋅ July 11, 2014
“AST” with Inrap in France

“AST” with Inrap in France

Archaeological Prospection ⋅ July 11, 2014
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  • Indy
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Another year and still no dinsoaurs, gold, etc…

Archaeological Prospection ⋅ July 11, 2014