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Case
Study
Odessa
Yates Site
1998
Field Season Results
See
also: Summary page - 2000
Field Season - 1999 Field Season
- the
University of Oklahoma Odessa Yates website
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In
1998, Archaeo-Physics conducted a preliminary survey
as part of an ongoing research project by the University
of Oklahoma. Both resistivity and magnetic were collected
on a portion of the site. Several apparent architectural
features were identified from the geophysical data.
The results were verified by conducting limited excavation
and coring.
The
green circles on the resistance map to the left represent
high-resistance anomalies, interpreted as prehistoric
architectural features.
Ground
Truthing (sub-surface testing) was performed on the
anomalies marked A and B. This testing confirmed the
cultural origin of these features (see below).
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The composite map to the left shows magnetic
and elevation data overlaid as contours on the electrical
resistance data image map. White lines represent elevation
contours, while colored lined represent magnetic gradient
contours (red+, yellow-, interval 2nT) |
Ground truthing
Testing of geophysical anomalies, or
"ground truthing", was conducted on a sample of the geophysical
anomalies at the Odessa-Yates Site using a combination of
non-invasive and invasive techniques. The objective was
to identify the source of the geophysical anomaly in the
least invasive and least time consuming manner.
Ground truthing
began with the creation of a 1:100 scale map with grid lines
at one meter intervals in the North-South and East-West
directions. This map was used to locate the precise position
of each anomaly within our grid system.
Among the Anomalies
selected for testing were the anomalies labeled as A and
B on the resistance map (the map shows only a portion of
the survey). Both were presumed to be architectural features.
Anomaly A has associated magnetic anomalies and B does not.
Once the position of the anomaly
was located on the ground, testing was conducted using the
following three methods:
- Ground penetrating radar survey
- Systematic soil coring
(3" diameter truck mounted hydraulic core)
- One square meter test excavation units
Because of the
high conductivity of the soil and limited dielectric contrast,
the ground penetrating radar yielded inconclusive results.
Coring of anomaly
A revealed level floor with a dark organic cultural deposit
containing much charcoal and bone.
Coring of anomaly
B was inconclusive, but excavation showed it to be a structure
made of very friable mud brick, but without associated cultural
material.
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