Case Study
Central Park
19th Century brewery complex, Grand Forks, North Dakota
An electrical resistance survey was performed in Central
Park, Grand Forks, North Dakota. The purpose of the survey was to
locate and assess the integrity of archaeological features in an
area that may be impacted by a proposed flood control project.
Because of the very uniform geologic background within
the survey area, even very subtle, low contrast cultural features
appeared strikingly in the geophysical data. The survey was successful
in identifying a number of cultural features of historic origin,
some of which may be associated with a 19th Century brewery complex.
Building foundations, utility lines, and a city street were apparent
in the resistance data. Although the sources of these anomalies
are shallowly buried (less than 1 meter in depth) and evidently
retain some some integrity, they are not expressed on the surface.
The survey also identified several resistance anomalies
which may be of Native American origin. Subsurface testing of these
anomalies has not yet been performed, but other investigations suggest
that there may have been a Native American occupation in the vicinity.
Interpretations are overlaid on the geophysical data on the smaller
map.
 |
|
Geophysical anomalies traced in yellow are
thought to represent late 19th and early 20th century features
associated with the Jacob Dobmeier Brewery complex and the
former city street on which it was located. The outlines of
3rd street and associated utility lines are plainly visible.
A rectangular "grid" of linear resistance highs
at 50 N, 135 E may be associated with the refrigeration equipment
belonging to the brewery's ice house.
Those features traced in blue are thought
to be "modern" 20th century features related to
the sites present use as an urban park.
Geophysical anomalous regions traced in red
are possibly cultural features, but of an indeterminate origin.
Included in this category are two rectangular anomalies, located
at 95 N, 150 E and 80 N, 160 E, both of which may be historic
building foundations
Features traced in green may represent prehistoric
or proto-historic Native American cultural features. Soil
coring data collected prior to the geophysical survey suggests
that there may have been a Native American occupation within
the survey area.
|
