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Case Study
Odessa Yates Site
Southern Plains Village Site, Oklahoma Panhandle
The Odessa-Yates site (34 BV 100) is a Plains
Village Period (Odessa Phase) site in the Oklahoma Panhandle.
Archaeo-Physics conducted three seasons of geophysical
investigation as part of ongoing research by Scott D. Brosowske
of the University of Oklahoma. At the end of the 2000 field
season, 3.5 hectares of the site had been covered with both
resistance and magnetic field gradient survey. Portions of
the site were also investigated with ground penetrating radar.
Numerous geophysical anomalies thought to be
house features and pits have been identified in the geophysical
data. Extensive ground truthing by coring and excavation has
shown a high correlation between geophysical anomalies and
cultural features, and ground truthing results have served
to further inform interpretation of survey data.
University of Oklahoma conducted field schools
at Odessa-Yates in 1999 and 2000. Geophysical survey data
allowed archaeologists to pinpoint features for excavation.
Eliminating exploratory excavation maximized efficiency in
achieving research goals and minimized impact to the site.
Archaeo-Physics personnel also provided students at the field
schools with instruction and hands on experience with geophysical
techniques in archaeology.
See
also: the University of Oklahoma Odessa Yates website
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