I am an archaeologist specialising in Archaeological Geophysics, Geoarchaeology, GIS and Landscape Archaeolgy. My multidisciplinary background gives me unique perspective on understanding past human activities on the landscape.
Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasivemanner u... more Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasivemanner using geophysical methods. These measure the spatial variation of a range ofphysical properties of the soil which may be representative proxies of the subsurfacearchaeology. Less-invasive and cost-effective field procedures have become top-priority tomitigate the destructive effects on our cultural heritage from intensified land use, climatechange and the current conflict panorama. At a time when many organisations are investing in advanced geophysical equipment, amajor problem is that our ability to fully interpret the information available from geophysical datasets is still very limited. This deficiency prevents geophysical survey moving beyond basic prospection and becoming a significant tool for answering nuanced questions about archaeology and their host landscapes. This limitation arises from an incomplete understanding of the relationship between soil properties and geophysical mea...
Archaeo-geophysics currently stands as a powerful discipline in European archaeological research ... more Archaeo-geophysics currently stands as a powerful discipline in European archaeological research to discover, study and record subsurface archaeological sites. Its importance lies in its capacity to reveal hidden archaeological assets in a non-destructive, rapid and detailed manner in comparison with traditional and more invasive archaeological methods such as excavation or test-trenching. In the last decade, a major technological development in archaeo-geophysics has been the introduction of multi-sensor and motorised instrumentation. This has revolutionised archaeological prospection by allowing extremely fast and high-resolution surveys to explore large areas.Whilst the discipline of archaeo-geophysics is going through an exciting phase of technological development, a major problem concerning researchers and practitioners is that our ability to interpret the full suite of information extractable from geophysical datasets has not kept pace with developments in technology and is st...
The Spanish Influenza of 1919 had a devastating effect on Aboriginal Australian communities, part... more The Spanish Influenza of 1919 had a devastating effect on Aboriginal Australian communities, particularly Cherbourg (formerly known as Barambah Aboriginal Reserve), which resulted in a loss of ~15% of their population. Deaths happened so quickly that coffins were not built and, in some cases, trenches or mass graves were used to inter the dead in addition to individual graves. Although the trench locations were formally unknown by the Cherbourg community today, a major concern of the Cherbourg Elders is that they wanted to memorialise those affected by the 1919 pandemic, especially 100 years later. One attempt to locate the mass graves was to apply geophysical methods in the New and Old Cherbourg cemeteries to detect these unmarked burials. Our paper demonstrates how ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetic gradiometry were used along with oral histories and Indigenous knowledge to detect three mass graves associated with the Spanish Influenza. Outcomes such as this play an important role is supporting 'Truth Telling' for the Cherbourg Aboriginal community.
Ethnohistoric accounts indicate that the people of Australia's Channel Country engaged in act... more Ethnohistoric accounts indicate that the people of Australia's Channel Country engaged in activities rarely recorded elsewhere on the continent, including food storage, aquaculture and possible cultivation, yet there has been little archaeological fieldwork to verify these accounts. Here, the authors report on a collaborative research project initiated by the Mithaka people addressing this lack of archaeological investigation. The results show that Mithaka Country has a substantial and diverse archaeological record, including numerous large stone quarries, multiple ritual structures and substantial dwellings. Our archaeological research revealed unknown aspects, such as the scale of Mithaka quarrying, which could stimulate re-evaluation of Aboriginal socio-economic systems in parts of ancient Australia.
Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasive manner ... more Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasive manner using geophysical methods. These measure the spatial variation of a range of physical properties of the soil which may be representative proxies of the subsurface archaeology. Less-invasive and cost-effective field procedures have become top-priority to mitigate the destructive effects on our cultural heritage from intensified land use, climate change and the current conflict panorama. At a time when many organisations are investing in advanced geophysical equipment, a major problem is that our ability to fully interpret the information available from geophysical datasets is still very limited. This deficiency prevents geophysical survey moving beyond basic prospection and becoming a significant tool for answering nuanced questions about archaeology and their host landscapes. This limitation arises from an incomplete understanding of the relationship between soil properties and geophysic...
Archaeological records documenting the timing and use of northern Great Barrier Reef offshore isl... more Archaeological records documenting the timing and use of northern Great Barrier Reef offshore islands by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout the Holocene are limited when compared to the central and southern extents of the region. Excavations on Lizard Island, located 33 km from Cape Flattery on the mainland, provide high resolution evidence for periodic, yet sustained offshore island use over the past 4000 years, with focused exploitation of diverse marine resources and manufacture of quartz artefacts. An increase in island use occurs from around 2250 years ago, at a time when a hiatus or reduction in offshore island occupation has been documented for other Great Barrier Reef islands, but concurrent with demographic expansion across Torres Strait to the north. Archaeological evidence from Lizard Island provides a previously undocumented occupation pattern associated with Great Barrier Reef Late Holocene island use. We suggest this trajectory of Lizard Island oc...
Rockshelters contain some of the most important archives of human activity in Australia but most ... more Rockshelters contain some of the most important archives of human activity in Australia but most research has focused on artifacts and cultural context. This study ex- plores geomorphological and geoarchaeological approaches for understanding a sandstone rockshelter in interior northern Australia: Gledswood Shelter 1. At this site, magnetic suscep- tibility and micromorphology techniques were integrated with bulk sedimentology, soil chemistry and geochronology to bet- ter understand the record of human impact and site formation processes. The micromorphology studies indicate that primary depositional fabrics, such as graded bedding or laminations, are absent, and sediment structural development is low throughout the entire sequence, with most samples exhibiting a high degree of post-depositional mixing. The sediment mag- netic susceptibility analysis reveals magnetic changes coinciding with human occupation, a result of anthropogenic burning. Specifically we highlight that combustion features are prevalent in this sandstone shelter and provide critical insights into the human usage of the shelter.
‘The Archaeology of the Native Mounted Police in Queensland’ project, jointly led by Nulungu rese... more ‘The Archaeology of the Native Mounted Police in Queensland’ project, jointly led by Nulungu research fellow Dr Lynley Wallis, is a long-overdue exploration into the nature of frontier invasion. This project was a long time in development. Several of our team members have worked in Queensland for many decades and, in every Aboriginal community in which we’ve worked, stories are told about the ‘killing times’ or the ‘war’, as community members call the period when the Native Mounted Police (NMP, also referred to as the ‘Native Police’) were operating. Many community members have asked us over the years to record their stories about the massacres that took place, or have shown us places associated with the police camps or the massacre sites, and often told us that they would like to know more about what happened. These requests eventually led to the archaeologists on this project coming together, talking with key Aboriginal people and communities, and developing a research project to address their interests — the project described in this paper is the result.
The Irish settlement of Baker's Flat, located in the rural heart of South Australia near the town... more The Irish settlement of Baker's Flat, located in the rural heart of South Australia near the town of Kapunda, was occupied from the mid-nineteenth century for about 90 years. Although little archaeological work has been carried out in Australia specifically on Irish communities, Baker's Flat is of particular interest because it potentially operated as a traditional Irish clachan, an informal clustering of farm dwellings and outbuildings, and home in this instance to the Irish immigrants who worked in the nearby copper mine. The site was cleared for farming purposes in the 1950s, and little recordation of the dwellings and settlement exist today, aside from a single 1890s map. Owing to the demolition and landscape modification, it was unclear whether any intact subsurface deposits still existed. Therefore, this site was ideal for deploying two geophysical methods, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetic gradiometry, to assess the presence of subsurface remains and explore the spatial layout of the site. Our results, when compared with those obtained from surface surveys and targeted archaeological excavation, revealed numerous subsurface features and helped to confirm that Baker's Flat was built in the style of a traditional Irish clachan. This study also demonstrated that magnetic gradiometer was the better geophysical method for mapping this settlement as the nature of the geology (shallow bedrock) and construction of the houses (built within the bedrock) limited the utility of GPR.
The Caribbean island of Carriacou is notable for its recurrent drought, paucity of large, native ... more The Caribbean island of Carriacou is notable for its recurrent drought, paucity of large, native land animals, and well-developed bank and barrier reef system. These environmental conditions presented challenges and opportunities to the Amerindians, Europeans, and enslaved Africans who settled here through time. While available evidence suggests human presence has altered island ecology through agriculture, deforestation, erosion, species introductions, and extinction, overall human ecodynamics remain poorly understood. In 2018, the Carriacou Ecodynamics Archaeology Project (CEAP) initiated a field program investigating long-term human-environment interaction to reconstruct Carriacou’s landscape history. The CEAP seeks to develop high-resolution records for anthropogenic habitat modification and change in biotic communities from initial Amerindian settlement (ca. AD 400) through the colonial period (1740s–1974) up to the present. Pilot investigations comprising pedestrian survey, test pitting, site mapping, and geophysical survey targeted the coastal archaeological site Sabazan, where ca. 1,600 years of pre- and post-contact settlement are recorded. Here, we present the results of this first field season, demonstrating the potential of geophysical survey approaches in the Caribbean and the need for renewed, focused attention to Carriacou’s archaeological resources which are being rapidly lost due to coastal erosion.
Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasive manner ... more Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasive manner using geophysical methods. These measure the spatial variation of a range of physical properties of the soil which may be representative proxies of the subsurface archaeology. Less-invasive and cost-effective field procedures have become top-priority to mitigate the destructive effects on our cultural heritage from intensified land use, climate change and the current conflict panorama.
Although historians have provided substantial insights into the structure, development and activi... more Although historians have provided substantial insights into the structure, development and activities of the Queensland Native Mounted Police, they have rarely focused on the complex and sensitive issue of Aboriginal recruitment. A careful reading of historical records, however, identifies several methods, including coercion, intimidation, kidnapping and inducement, as well as “voluntary” enlistment. It is difficult to identify Aboriginal agency in recruitment processes as the records are entirely one-sided—the voices of the troopers themselves are absent from the archival sources. In this article, we examine the cultural and historical contexts of Aboriginal recruitment—for example, the dire social situations of Aboriginal survivors of the frontier war and the absence of future survival options for the potential recruits. We explore, through the framework of historical trauma, the impacts on vulnerable victims of violence and other devastating effects of colonisation. We conclude that the recruitment of Aboriginal troopers was far from a homogeneous or transparent process and that the concept of agency with regard to those who can be considered war victims themselves is extremely complex. Unravelling the diverse, conflicting and often controversial meanings of this particular colonial activity remains a challenge to the historical process.
Sampling issues represent a persistent problem in shell matrix research, particularly for large s... more Sampling issues represent a persistent problem in shell matrix research, particularly for large shell deposits. When small samples are taken from large buried deposits it is almost impossible, under current research practices, to understand how representative that sample is of the overall deposit. This case study tests a novel method for creating a better understanding of the buried deposits from which excavated samples are taken, thereby allowing for improved sampling strategies and a better understanding of how representative those samples are of the overall site. The case study employs two geophysical survey methods, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity, to investigate buried shell deposits under experimental conditions. The survey results were used to create volume estimations and three‐dimensional (3D) models of buried shell deposits. This method is novel to shell matrix research and the current case study was designed to test the viability of the method under differing conditions. As well as testing the two geophysical methods, surveys were conducted under different moisture levels, soil types and survey transect spacings. Results showed that the 3D models and volume estimates of the deposit were successful in creating a representative understanding of the nature of the buried deposit, but with varying degrees of accuracy. GPR results created more accurate volume estimates and 3D models than the electrical resistivity results. Both geophysical methods produced more accurate results under drier conditions, though the electrical resistivity produced more visually distinct results with higher moisture levels. Analysis of the volume results revealed an error margin (to a confidence level of 95%) of 9.5% ± 15.5% for the GPR, and 44.5% ± 31.5% to 56 ± 70.5% for the electrical resistivity, depending on the interpretation method used to create the models.
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is used in this study to delineate the extent and internal structu... more Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is used in this study to delineate the extent and internal structure of a large late Holocene buried shell matrix site at Thundiy, Bentinck Island, northern Australia. Shell matrix sites comprise a key component of the coastal archaeological record. The extensive nature of many shell matrix sites presents challenges for archaeological sampling regimes. While large-scale excavation is undesirable and impractical, limited test pits often represent only a tiny fraction of large shell deposits and are rarely considered representative. This study transforms GPR data into three-dimensional models which form the basis of deposit volume estimates. Volume estimates are evaluated against excavation data to test their accuracy. Results demonstrate that this novel methodology can generate accurate three-dimensional representations of buried shell matrices and highly accurate volume estimations with error margins of 3.5% ± 7%. It is recommended, though, that more inclusive error margins of 19.5% ± 17% are used to account for potential error, especially where results cannot be verified. This greater understanding of the extent and structural variability of deposits can be utilised to create robust sampling strategies for excavation. The methodology could also be further employed to enhance comparative regional studies and to add to conservation and management practices of buried shell matrix sites. If applied more widely this methodology will not only benefit our understanding of shell matrix deposits but also the wider archaeological record of coastal regions worldwide.
The construction of the Cambridge Downs homestead, built between 1876 and 1877 on the Stawell Riv... more The construction of the Cambridge Downs homestead, built between 1876 and 1877 on the Stawell River in central north Queensland, has long been thought unusual for the region. Local folklore suggests that it was intentionally fortified as protection against Aboriginal attack and a 2009 replica of the homestead in the main street of Richmond presents this story as a central part of the region’s history. A survey of the structure, however, reveals a building that is atypical but not necessarily fortified. Archaeological and architectural studies of supposedly fortified structures elsewhere are similarly equivocal. We argue that such accounts are part of a long tradition of representing Aboriginal people as a threat. The attacks that such architecture is intended to deter are on domestic spaces, and often on the sacrosanct spaces of family, women and children. As such, they enhance visions of ‘ordinary’ people as battlers and are automatically cast in terms of choices that are defensive rather than offensive. While fear was a very real experience on the frontier (on both sides), uncritical acceptance of accounts of fortified structures obscures the complexity of the frontier in the past and prevents us from seeing the ways in which such claims are being used to remember or forget the consequences of the frontier in the present.
Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasivemanner u... more Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasivemanner using geophysical methods. These measure the spatial variation of a range ofphysical properties of the soil which may be representative proxies of the subsurfacearchaeology. Less-invasive and cost-effective field procedures have become top-priority tomitigate the destructive effects on our cultural heritage from intensified land use, climatechange and the current conflict panorama. At a time when many organisations are investing in advanced geophysical equipment, amajor problem is that our ability to fully interpret the information available from geophysical datasets is still very limited. This deficiency prevents geophysical survey moving beyond basic prospection and becoming a significant tool for answering nuanced questions about archaeology and their host landscapes. This limitation arises from an incomplete understanding of the relationship between soil properties and geophysical mea...
Archaeo-geophysics currently stands as a powerful discipline in European archaeological research ... more Archaeo-geophysics currently stands as a powerful discipline in European archaeological research to discover, study and record subsurface archaeological sites. Its importance lies in its capacity to reveal hidden archaeological assets in a non-destructive, rapid and detailed manner in comparison with traditional and more invasive archaeological methods such as excavation or test-trenching. In the last decade, a major technological development in archaeo-geophysics has been the introduction of multi-sensor and motorised instrumentation. This has revolutionised archaeological prospection by allowing extremely fast and high-resolution surveys to explore large areas.Whilst the discipline of archaeo-geophysics is going through an exciting phase of technological development, a major problem concerning researchers and practitioners is that our ability to interpret the full suite of information extractable from geophysical datasets has not kept pace with developments in technology and is st...
The Spanish Influenza of 1919 had a devastating effect on Aboriginal Australian communities, part... more The Spanish Influenza of 1919 had a devastating effect on Aboriginal Australian communities, particularly Cherbourg (formerly known as Barambah Aboriginal Reserve), which resulted in a loss of ~15% of their population. Deaths happened so quickly that coffins were not built and, in some cases, trenches or mass graves were used to inter the dead in addition to individual graves. Although the trench locations were formally unknown by the Cherbourg community today, a major concern of the Cherbourg Elders is that they wanted to memorialise those affected by the 1919 pandemic, especially 100 years later. One attempt to locate the mass graves was to apply geophysical methods in the New and Old Cherbourg cemeteries to detect these unmarked burials. Our paper demonstrates how ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetic gradiometry were used along with oral histories and Indigenous knowledge to detect three mass graves associated with the Spanish Influenza. Outcomes such as this play an important role is supporting 'Truth Telling' for the Cherbourg Aboriginal community.
Ethnohistoric accounts indicate that the people of Australia's Channel Country engaged in act... more Ethnohistoric accounts indicate that the people of Australia's Channel Country engaged in activities rarely recorded elsewhere on the continent, including food storage, aquaculture and possible cultivation, yet there has been little archaeological fieldwork to verify these accounts. Here, the authors report on a collaborative research project initiated by the Mithaka people addressing this lack of archaeological investigation. The results show that Mithaka Country has a substantial and diverse archaeological record, including numerous large stone quarries, multiple ritual structures and substantial dwellings. Our archaeological research revealed unknown aspects, such as the scale of Mithaka quarrying, which could stimulate re-evaluation of Aboriginal socio-economic systems in parts of ancient Australia.
Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasive manner ... more Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasive manner using geophysical methods. These measure the spatial variation of a range of physical properties of the soil which may be representative proxies of the subsurface archaeology. Less-invasive and cost-effective field procedures have become top-priority to mitigate the destructive effects on our cultural heritage from intensified land use, climate change and the current conflict panorama. At a time when many organisations are investing in advanced geophysical equipment, a major problem is that our ability to fully interpret the information available from geophysical datasets is still very limited. This deficiency prevents geophysical survey moving beyond basic prospection and becoming a significant tool for answering nuanced questions about archaeology and their host landscapes. This limitation arises from an incomplete understanding of the relationship between soil properties and geophysic...
Archaeological records documenting the timing and use of northern Great Barrier Reef offshore isl... more Archaeological records documenting the timing and use of northern Great Barrier Reef offshore islands by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout the Holocene are limited when compared to the central and southern extents of the region. Excavations on Lizard Island, located 33 km from Cape Flattery on the mainland, provide high resolution evidence for periodic, yet sustained offshore island use over the past 4000 years, with focused exploitation of diverse marine resources and manufacture of quartz artefacts. An increase in island use occurs from around 2250 years ago, at a time when a hiatus or reduction in offshore island occupation has been documented for other Great Barrier Reef islands, but concurrent with demographic expansion across Torres Strait to the north. Archaeological evidence from Lizard Island provides a previously undocumented occupation pattern associated with Great Barrier Reef Late Holocene island use. We suggest this trajectory of Lizard Island oc...
Rockshelters contain some of the most important archives of human activity in Australia but most ... more Rockshelters contain some of the most important archives of human activity in Australia but most research has focused on artifacts and cultural context. This study ex- plores geomorphological and geoarchaeological approaches for understanding a sandstone rockshelter in interior northern Australia: Gledswood Shelter 1. At this site, magnetic suscep- tibility and micromorphology techniques were integrated with bulk sedimentology, soil chemistry and geochronology to bet- ter understand the record of human impact and site formation processes. The micromorphology studies indicate that primary depositional fabrics, such as graded bedding or laminations, are absent, and sediment structural development is low throughout the entire sequence, with most samples exhibiting a high degree of post-depositional mixing. The sediment mag- netic susceptibility analysis reveals magnetic changes coinciding with human occupation, a result of anthropogenic burning. Specifically we highlight that combustion features are prevalent in this sandstone shelter and provide critical insights into the human usage of the shelter.
‘The Archaeology of the Native Mounted Police in Queensland’ project, jointly led by Nulungu rese... more ‘The Archaeology of the Native Mounted Police in Queensland’ project, jointly led by Nulungu research fellow Dr Lynley Wallis, is a long-overdue exploration into the nature of frontier invasion. This project was a long time in development. Several of our team members have worked in Queensland for many decades and, in every Aboriginal community in which we’ve worked, stories are told about the ‘killing times’ or the ‘war’, as community members call the period when the Native Mounted Police (NMP, also referred to as the ‘Native Police’) were operating. Many community members have asked us over the years to record their stories about the massacres that took place, or have shown us places associated with the police camps or the massacre sites, and often told us that they would like to know more about what happened. These requests eventually led to the archaeologists on this project coming together, talking with key Aboriginal people and communities, and developing a research project to address their interests — the project described in this paper is the result.
The Irish settlement of Baker's Flat, located in the rural heart of South Australia near the town... more The Irish settlement of Baker's Flat, located in the rural heart of South Australia near the town of Kapunda, was occupied from the mid-nineteenth century for about 90 years. Although little archaeological work has been carried out in Australia specifically on Irish communities, Baker's Flat is of particular interest because it potentially operated as a traditional Irish clachan, an informal clustering of farm dwellings and outbuildings, and home in this instance to the Irish immigrants who worked in the nearby copper mine. The site was cleared for farming purposes in the 1950s, and little recordation of the dwellings and settlement exist today, aside from a single 1890s map. Owing to the demolition and landscape modification, it was unclear whether any intact subsurface deposits still existed. Therefore, this site was ideal for deploying two geophysical methods, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetic gradiometry, to assess the presence of subsurface remains and explore the spatial layout of the site. Our results, when compared with those obtained from surface surveys and targeted archaeological excavation, revealed numerous subsurface features and helped to confirm that Baker's Flat was built in the style of a traditional Irish clachan. This study also demonstrated that magnetic gradiometer was the better geophysical method for mapping this settlement as the nature of the geology (shallow bedrock) and construction of the houses (built within the bedrock) limited the utility of GPR.
The Caribbean island of Carriacou is notable for its recurrent drought, paucity of large, native ... more The Caribbean island of Carriacou is notable for its recurrent drought, paucity of large, native land animals, and well-developed bank and barrier reef system. These environmental conditions presented challenges and opportunities to the Amerindians, Europeans, and enslaved Africans who settled here through time. While available evidence suggests human presence has altered island ecology through agriculture, deforestation, erosion, species introductions, and extinction, overall human ecodynamics remain poorly understood. In 2018, the Carriacou Ecodynamics Archaeology Project (CEAP) initiated a field program investigating long-term human-environment interaction to reconstruct Carriacou’s landscape history. The CEAP seeks to develop high-resolution records for anthropogenic habitat modification and change in biotic communities from initial Amerindian settlement (ca. AD 400) through the colonial period (1740s–1974) up to the present. Pilot investigations comprising pedestrian survey, test pitting, site mapping, and geophysical survey targeted the coastal archaeological site Sabazan, where ca. 1,600 years of pre- and post-contact settlement are recorded. Here, we present the results of this first field season, demonstrating the potential of geophysical survey approaches in the Caribbean and the need for renewed, focused attention to Carriacou’s archaeological resources which are being rapidly lost due to coastal erosion.
Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasive manner ... more Archaeological sites can be discovered and recorded in a high-resolution and non-invasive manner using geophysical methods. These measure the spatial variation of a range of physical properties of the soil which may be representative proxies of the subsurface archaeology. Less-invasive and cost-effective field procedures have become top-priority to mitigate the destructive effects on our cultural heritage from intensified land use, climate change and the current conflict panorama.
Although historians have provided substantial insights into the structure, development and activi... more Although historians have provided substantial insights into the structure, development and activities of the Queensland Native Mounted Police, they have rarely focused on the complex and sensitive issue of Aboriginal recruitment. A careful reading of historical records, however, identifies several methods, including coercion, intimidation, kidnapping and inducement, as well as “voluntary” enlistment. It is difficult to identify Aboriginal agency in recruitment processes as the records are entirely one-sided—the voices of the troopers themselves are absent from the archival sources. In this article, we examine the cultural and historical contexts of Aboriginal recruitment—for example, the dire social situations of Aboriginal survivors of the frontier war and the absence of future survival options for the potential recruits. We explore, through the framework of historical trauma, the impacts on vulnerable victims of violence and other devastating effects of colonisation. We conclude that the recruitment of Aboriginal troopers was far from a homogeneous or transparent process and that the concept of agency with regard to those who can be considered war victims themselves is extremely complex. Unravelling the diverse, conflicting and often controversial meanings of this particular colonial activity remains a challenge to the historical process.
Sampling issues represent a persistent problem in shell matrix research, particularly for large s... more Sampling issues represent a persistent problem in shell matrix research, particularly for large shell deposits. When small samples are taken from large buried deposits it is almost impossible, under current research practices, to understand how representative that sample is of the overall deposit. This case study tests a novel method for creating a better understanding of the buried deposits from which excavated samples are taken, thereby allowing for improved sampling strategies and a better understanding of how representative those samples are of the overall site. The case study employs two geophysical survey methods, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity, to investigate buried shell deposits under experimental conditions. The survey results were used to create volume estimations and three‐dimensional (3D) models of buried shell deposits. This method is novel to shell matrix research and the current case study was designed to test the viability of the method under differing conditions. As well as testing the two geophysical methods, surveys were conducted under different moisture levels, soil types and survey transect spacings. Results showed that the 3D models and volume estimates of the deposit were successful in creating a representative understanding of the nature of the buried deposit, but with varying degrees of accuracy. GPR results created more accurate volume estimates and 3D models than the electrical resistivity results. Both geophysical methods produced more accurate results under drier conditions, though the electrical resistivity produced more visually distinct results with higher moisture levels. Analysis of the volume results revealed an error margin (to a confidence level of 95%) of 9.5% ± 15.5% for the GPR, and 44.5% ± 31.5% to 56 ± 70.5% for the electrical resistivity, depending on the interpretation method used to create the models.
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is used in this study to delineate the extent and internal structu... more Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is used in this study to delineate the extent and internal structure of a large late Holocene buried shell matrix site at Thundiy, Bentinck Island, northern Australia. Shell matrix sites comprise a key component of the coastal archaeological record. The extensive nature of many shell matrix sites presents challenges for archaeological sampling regimes. While large-scale excavation is undesirable and impractical, limited test pits often represent only a tiny fraction of large shell deposits and are rarely considered representative. This study transforms GPR data into three-dimensional models which form the basis of deposit volume estimates. Volume estimates are evaluated against excavation data to test their accuracy. Results demonstrate that this novel methodology can generate accurate three-dimensional representations of buried shell matrices and highly accurate volume estimations with error margins of 3.5% ± 7%. It is recommended, though, that more inclusive error margins of 19.5% ± 17% are used to account for potential error, especially where results cannot be verified. This greater understanding of the extent and structural variability of deposits can be utilised to create robust sampling strategies for excavation. The methodology could also be further employed to enhance comparative regional studies and to add to conservation and management practices of buried shell matrix sites. If applied more widely this methodology will not only benefit our understanding of shell matrix deposits but also the wider archaeological record of coastal regions worldwide.
The construction of the Cambridge Downs homestead, built between 1876 and 1877 on the Stawell Riv... more The construction of the Cambridge Downs homestead, built between 1876 and 1877 on the Stawell River in central north Queensland, has long been thought unusual for the region. Local folklore suggests that it was intentionally fortified as protection against Aboriginal attack and a 2009 replica of the homestead in the main street of Richmond presents this story as a central part of the region’s history. A survey of the structure, however, reveals a building that is atypical but not necessarily fortified. Archaeological and architectural studies of supposedly fortified structures elsewhere are similarly equivocal. We argue that such accounts are part of a long tradition of representing Aboriginal people as a threat. The attacks that such architecture is intended to deter are on domestic spaces, and often on the sacrosanct spaces of family, women and children. As such, they enhance visions of ‘ordinary’ people as battlers and are automatically cast in terms of choices that are defensive rather than offensive. While fear was a very real experience on the frontier (on both sides), uncritical acceptance of accounts of fortified structures obscures the complexity of the frontier in the past and prevents us from seeing the ways in which such claims are being used to remember or forget the consequences of the frontier in the present.
The heritage of Central Queensland has been subject to significant impacts from agriculture and m... more The heritage of Central Queensland has been subject to significant impacts from agriculture and mining activities over the past century. The scale of impact is variable depending upon the type of activity. Exploration activities commonly have minimal impacts due to their localised nature while large-scale land clearing associated with agriculture results in widespread destruction of Aboriginal archaeological sites via vegetation clearing, terra-forming and erosion. Projects having landscape level effects are occurring and their frequency is expected to increase in the near future with the ongoing focus on agricultural development. Aboriginal habitation and resource exploitation areas across Queensland now face these threats. A pilot study using a non-destructive geophysical technique, magnetic susceptibility, demonstrates the potential of mapping eroded archaeological features on adversely impacted landscapes. This enabled a more informed interpretation of site use and site formation processes however, does this alter the original interpretation and cultural significance of the site?
Determining the physical setting and layout of early societies is an important requirement for un... more Determining the physical setting and layout of early societies is an important requirement for understanding the development of Neolithic and Bronze Age urbanization and social organization in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean. In order for archaeologists to understand the history, context and settlement patterns of important sites and trade networks that developed during these periods, it is essential to investigate the cultural landscape surrounding these centers. This preliminary study examines the spatial layout of two sites in Central Anatolia, the Neolithic site of Boncuklu Höyük and the ancient Middle Bronze Age city of Kültepe-Kanesh, Turkey. This study builds upon current archaeological research by addressing issues regarding urbanism and settlement layout through systematic mapping of subsurface deposits with geophysical technologies and geographic information systems (GIS). Application of the methods used in this pilot study provided an opportunity to assess interpretations about these two sites. They also proved to be successful visual tools for understanding the site’s spatial layout.
The Riverine Plain in southern NSW is within one of Australia’s most important food production re... more The Riverine Plain in southern NSW is within one of Australia’s most important food production regions. The expansion of irrigation networks and increasingly intensive agricultural processes pose significant threats to the preservation of many Aboriginal sites, including mounds - also known as burnt earth or oven mounds, or heat retainer hearths. Previous archaeological research has shown mounds were in use from the mid Holocene. Mounds are often found in concentrations in floodplain environments and are composed of various organic and inorganic assemblages, with burnt clay being a commonly described component. In addition to their socio-economic importance, many sites are thought to have been used as burial places, making accurate identification a priority for the implementation of long-term preservation measures. Research to investigate the identifying characteristics and distribution of mounds on the eastern Riverine Plain has found that various cultural and non-cultural types occur in close association within both floodplain and semi-arid plain environments. In many cases, identification is impeded by both visibility and landscape features that mimic characteristics that are common to Aboriginal mounds and their contents. In this paper, we discuss the use of geophysical survey involving both gradiometry and magnetic susceptibility, to identify and record the physical form and features of different mound types. Along with geochemical and archaeological investigations, geophysical survey has been highly useful for distinguishing structural differences between mounds formed through anthropogenic burning and those formed by natural or historic processes.
The benefits of utilizing geophysical exploration at archaeological sites have been documented re... more The benefits of utilizing geophysical exploration at archaeological sites have been documented repeatedly. However recent research on mounds have eluded successful geophysical exploration because of their large size and associated depth, the materials used to construct them, as well as the highly complex anthropogenic deposits within them. Current research at the Parchman Place Mounds (22CO511) has resulted in a viable and cost effective method of investigating mounds using down-hole magnetic susceptibility focusing particularly on the structures associated with mounds. We have developed a set of data collection procedures which can be applied to numerous applications resulting in one-, two-, and three-dimensional depictions of the interior features of mounds while causing minimal damage.
In the last decade, geospatial technologies have been implemented in resource management primaril... more In the last decade, geospatial technologies have been implemented in resource management primarily to assess, document and deliver geographic information for the protection of cultural heritage. Setting the standards for efficient resource management (and arguably the fourth ‘R’ of Dr. Jay), the Center for Archaeological Research has been successful in developing innovative ways to understand sites in commercial archaeology. As former students, we continue this tradition and present several case studies where his teachings are prolific in our interpretations of cultural landscapes globally. We highlight how remote sensing applications influence resource management processes and assist stakeholders, researchers and communities alike.
The large size of many coastal shell matrix sites raiser complex sampling issues for archaeologic... more The large size of many coastal shell matrix sites raiser complex sampling issues for archaeological excavation. Prior research has suggested that up to 50% of shell matrix sites needs to be sampled to adequately characterise internal structure and diversity. However, the extensive nature of many sites makes this level of sampling both impractical in terms of time and resources, and undesirable owing to the destruction of the archaeological record Instead of extensive excavation, limited test pits are typically undertaken, covering only a small portion of the deposits. For a large site, these test pits represent a tiny sample, making it difficult to know how truly representative they are of the whole. By utilising geophysical surveys a much larger proportion of buried shell matrix deposits can be characterised, allowing for a greater understanding of the overall nature of the site. this paper presents preliminary results of a multi-method geophysical survey (magnetometry, ground-penetrating radar, magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity) conducted on a large shell matrix site on Bentinck Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Results of the geophysical surveys are compared to results obtained from standard test pit excavations.
The University of Queensland Culture and Heritage Unit (UQCHU) conducted a geophysical survey of ... more The University of Queensland Culture and Heritage Unit (UQCHU) conducted a geophysical survey of five archaeological sites in Historical Yangon, Myanmar between December 2014 and January 2015. The goal of this project was to locate buried cultural remains associated with colonial and pre-colonial Yangon using non-invasive techniques. The five sites investigated were Mahabandoola Park, Eain Taw Yar Pagoda, the Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist; the Secretariat or Ministers Office and the Shwedagon Pagoda. The archaeological potential of an abandoned Portuguese Church from the colonial period was also inspected, but without using geophysical survey.
As foreign investment increases across Myanmar, urban infill, urban expansion and tourism, create significant challenges for the management of Yangon’s cultural heritage. Using a combination of archival research, visual inspection and archaeological geophysical survey this project has sought to:
verify the efficacy of geophysical survey methods within Historic Yangon, identify intact archaeological deposits and to
determine what role geophysical survey can play in documenting and helping to preserve Yangon’s heritage values.
Our findings indicate that preserved archaeological material does exist in the subsurface deposits of Historic Yangon which hold the potential to provide critical information detailing the long term development and changes the city has experienced. We have also shown that non-invasive archaeological geophysics using ground-penetrating radar and magnetometry can be successfully applied in Historic Yangon and that they should be included in the heritage management process.
In 2008, Coastal Environments, Inc., (CEI) was contracted by Neel-Schaffer, Inc., on behalf of th... more In 2008, Coastal Environments, Inc., (CEI) was contracted by Neel-Schaffer, Inc., on behalf of the City of Biloxi, to conduct cultural resources investigations for the proposed Lighthouse Park and Visitor’s Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. As the City of Biloxi applied for funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program to aid in the construction of the proposed project, Neel-Schaffer, Inc., was tasked to prepare an environmental assessment to comply with Section 102 of NEPA. The cultural resources investigations conducted by CEI within the project area form part of that environmental assessment.
The Lighthouse Park project area consists of 1.07 ha (2.65 ac) of land located on the eastern side of Porter Avenue where it intersects with U.S. Highway 90 (Beach Boulevard). From December 2008 to February 2009, CEI conducted its initial investigations within the project area. Two known sites—the Jim Parker Site (22HR529) and the Chamber of Commerce Site (22HR998)—are located within the project area, and the Moran Site (22HR511) abuts the northwest corner of the project area. In addition to these sites, two new sites—the Lighthouse Keeper’s House Site (22HR1026) and the Dantzler House Site
(22HR1027)—were recorded during CEI’s initial investigations.
Prior to CEI’s initial investigations, the Jim Parker Site (22HR529) was considered to be extensively disturbed from the construction of two gas stations and no further work was recommended there. Intact archaeological features/deposits were encountered at sites
22HR998, 22HR1026 and 22HR1027 in 2008-2009. CEI recommended that all three of these sites were potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP). CEI also recommended that further work be conducted prior to construction of the new visitor’s center and park. The SHPO concurred with those recommendations in April
2009.
In August 2009, the City of Biloxi contracted CEI to conduct intensive archaeological investigations within the Lighthouse Park and Visitor’s Center project area as recommended and agreed upon by MDAH and FEMA in the spring of 2009. These investigations were conducted from August 2009 to February 2010. A total of 30 archaeological features were encountered within those portions of the Chamber of Commerce Site (22HR998) and the Dantzler House Site (22HR1027) that were subject to the intensive investigations. No new features were recorded at the Lighthouse Keeper’s House Site (22HR1026); however, only about 10 percent of the site was examined during these investigations, and the remainder of the site remains undisturbed. As portions of all three of these sites remain undisturbed, the Chamber of Commerce Site (22HR998), the Lighthouse Keeper’s House Site (22HR1026) and the Dantzler House Site (22HR1027) are still considered eligible for listing on the NRHP. If any further work is proposed at sites 22HR998, 22HR1026 and 22HR1027 in those areas, any potential effects should be assessed prior to any ground disturbing activities.
In 2006 Coastal Environments, Inc. (CEI) carried out a survey of the original proposed alignment ... more In 2006 Coastal Environments, Inc. (CEI) carried out a survey of the original proposed alignment for the Columbus Bypass, which included eastern and western alternatives between Waverly Ferry Road and the Columbus and Greenville Railroad for Neel-Schaffer, Inc., in Jackson, Mississippi. Changes to one of the proposed
interchanges necessitated additional survey that was conducted in 2009 (Ryan et al. 2009). Additional changes to the proposed interchanges were again made and a complete Phase I archaeological survey was conducted for this project. The current alternative, designated as Alternatives B and C, is located between Mississippi Highway (MS) 373 and Mike Parra Road.
The project right-of-way (ROW) for the alternatives was 300 ft wide with an Area of Potential Effect (APE) of 75 ft. Investigations were conducted in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as well as with guidelines set forth by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) (Sims 2001); the Procedures of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (36 CFR 800); the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (PL 89-665), as amended; the Archaeological Resource
Protection Act of 1979, and other appropriate cultural resources legislation and guidelines including those set forth by the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA). No prehistoric cultural deposits considered eligible for the National Register Historic Places (NRHP) were discovered during the Columbus Bypass survey. However, outside the project APE an African-American cemetery known as the Sykes cemetery was identified
during this survey.
Coastal Environments, Inc. (CEI) conducted a cultural resources survey for the proposed Ocean Spr... more Coastal Environments, Inc. (CEI) conducted a cultural resources survey for the proposed Ocean Springs Fishing Pier project in May 2010. CEI was subcontracted by Broaddus & Associates of Ocean Springs, to perform a marine remote sensing using magnetometry for the City of Ocean Springs. This project included funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where compliance of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (1966) was required. The purpose of the survey was to determine if intact archaeological deposits were located within the project area. No significant cultural resources were discovered during CEI’s survey of the proposed Ocean Springs Fishing Pier survey area.
The Old Wire Road/Washington & New Orleans Telegraph Company Telegraph Line runs across Jackson, ... more The Old Wire Road/Washington & New Orleans Telegraph Company Telegraph Line runs across Jackson, Stone, Pearl River, and Hancock counties from the Alabama line on the east to the Louisiana line on the west. It is the telegraph line that established communication between the Gulf East Coast. Attached to pine trees and eventually post, the 1846 project provided for messages to be relayed from New York to Pensacola, across south Mississippi and then to New Orleans in record (1848) time. The Old Wire Road runs across south Stone County in the vicinity of East Wire Road crossing Highway 15, U.S. Highway 49 and Old Highway 26 for a distance of approximately 30 miles. A biking/walking trail with interpretative points along the way will be developed in Stone County. Using archival research, oral history, and field survey, Coastal Environments, Inc. (CEI) was able to mark and identify remnants of the historic telegraph line in Stone County, Mississippi.
Post-Katrina cultural resources management efforts on the Mississippi’s Gulf Coast have had three... more Post-Katrina cultural resources management efforts on the Mississippi’s Gulf Coast have had three main goals for addressing storm impacts on archaeological sites: (1) assessing the potential effects of storm debris removal on archaeological sites, (2) updating the site file information for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH), and (3) determining potential National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility. Over the past four years Coastal Environments, Inc. (CEI) has been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the MDAH in an attempt to address cultural resources affected by Hurricane Katrina. CEI’s first phase of work consisted of extensive surveys on the Mississippi coast. Subsequent Phase II testing of four shell midden sites (22HA510, 22HR502, 22HR1001, 22HR1009) that have not been determined eligible for the NRHP, has provided information on each site’s dimensions, cultural components, and integrity as well as evaluations of natural and cultural impacts to the sites. Although an excellent study on the archaeology of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, by John Blitz and C. Baxter Mann, recently was published by MDAH, that report mainly investigated sites in the eastern part of the coastal zone, namely Jackson County. Thus CEI’s site testing was concentrated in the two western counties, Hancock and Harrison.
Coastal Environment, Incorporated (CEI) conducted a cultural resources survey of the Tullis-Toled... more Coastal Environment, Incorporated (CEI) conducted a cultural resources survey of the Tullis-Toledano Manor property (archaeological site 22HR911) in Biloxi, Mississippi from October to December 2009 for the proposed development of the Katrina, Mardi Gras and Maritime and Seafood Industry Museums. This property contained three mid-nineteenth-century structures that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. These buildings consisted of the main house--Tullis-Toledano Manor, a detached kitchen generally referred to as the servants' quarters and the carriage/Crawford House. The main house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1976, but was de-listed after its destruction. However, Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has determined the entire property/archaeological site is eligible for the NRHP, due to intact historic and prehistoric deposits it is know to contain.
CEI originally surveyed the property in spring of 2007. Subsequent to this survey, significant earth-moving operations were undertaken at Tullis--presumably by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) or the City of Biloxi--in October and Novemeber of 2007. The portion of the site affected by such operations has been re-examined by CEI. In addition, the asphalt driveway located on the property was also removed and surveyed.
This survey determined that the subsurface foundations of the Tullis house was destroyed by earth-moving activities of 2007. Only the partial remains of the brick sidewalk surround the house were observed. The remaining two structures, the servants quarters and Crawford House, and a brick well also survive intact. As, site 22HR511 retains enough integrity to remain eligible for the NRHP, under criterion D, no portion of the property can be developed until additional archaeological investigations are undertaken. The limits of all areas with known intact deposits need to be defined. Testing is required in all portions of 22HR911 where no excavation have yet taken place, including those areas examined solely by remote sensing. Data-recovery excavations will then be necessary before any portion of the property with intact deposits can be cleared for future federally funded development.
The aim of this thesis is to develop and apply geophysical methods for Australian archaeology. Th... more The aim of this thesis is to develop and apply geophysical methods for Australian archaeology. The methods focus on magnetic susceptibility and ground-penetrating radar (GPR). The techniques are contextualised through application to the following four key archaeological questions: 1) Can magnetic susceptibility assist in resolving questions surrounding the potential downward movement of stone artefacts in rockshelter deposits? 2) Is human occupation persistent through the changing climatic regime associated with the last glacial maximum (LGM) at a Pleistocene-aged rockshelter in interior Australia? 3) How might we identify burials in a geologically complex rockshelter deposit? 4) How might magnetic susceptibility contribute to knowledge about the formation of ‘archaeologically instantaneous’ shell matrix sites? In exploring these questions, research was conducted at two rockshelters in northern Australia and on three shell mounds in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. The results demonstrate that both magnetic susceptibility and GPR studies can be valuable tools in deciphering key archaeological questions in the Australian landscape. The most important findings relate to the ability of magnetic susceptibility signals to clearly define levels at which humans first appear in the archaeological record. This will allow a major progress in determining the timing and dispersion of human settlements for Australian sites.
Over the past few decades archaeogeophysical instrumentation, field methodologies, and data proce... more Over the past few decades archaeogeophysical instrumentation, field methodologies, and data processing have improved dramatically. Yet it is still difficult to provide an accurate assessment of many anomalies from standard archaeogeophysical datasets. In response to this problem we have been developing new field techniques to aid in the interpretation of these enigmatic anomalies. Over the past months, downhole magnetic susceptibility field tests were conducted at Parchman Place Mounds in Yazoo Basin, Mississippi. These tests utilized soils collected from the walls of excavations analyzed in a laboratory setting and downhole magnetic susceptibility data gathered in the field culminating in an enhanced understanding of the site.
Although the historical record relating to nineteenth century frontier conflict between Aborigina... more Although the historical record relating to nineteenth century frontier conflict between Aboriginal groups and Europeans in Queensland has been clearly documented, there have been limited associated archaeological studies. As part of the Archaeology of the Queensland Native Mounted Police (NMP) project, this paper canvasses the physical imprint of frontier conflict across Queensland between 1849 and the early 1900s, focusing specifically on the activities and camp sites of the NMP, the government-sanctioned paramilitary force tasked with policing Aboriginal people to protect settler livelihoods. At least 148 NMP camps of varying duration once existed, and historical and archaeological investigations of these demonstrate some consistent patterning amongst them, as well as idiosyncrasies depending on individual locations and circumstances. All camps were positioned with primary regard to the availability of water and forage. Owing to their intended temporary nature and the frugality of the government, the surviving structural footprints of camps are generally limited. Buildings were typically timber slab and bark constructions with few permanent foundations and surviving architectural features are therefore rare, limited to elements such as ant bed flooring, remnant house or yard posts, stone lines demarcating pathways, and stone fireplaces. Architectural forms of spatial confinement, such as lockups or palisades, were absent from the camps themselves. The most distinctive features of NMP camps, and what allows them to be distinguished from the myriad pastoral sites of similar ages, are their artefact assemblages, especially the combined presence of gilt uniform buttons with the Victoria Regina insignia, knapped bottle glass, and certain ammunition-related objects.
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Papers by Kelsey Lowe
This project was a long time in development. Several of our team members have worked in Queensland for many decades and, in every Aboriginal community in which we’ve worked, stories are told about the ‘killing times’ or the ‘war’, as community members call the period when the Native Mounted Police (NMP, also referred to as the ‘Native Police’) were operating. Many community members have asked us over the years to record their stories about the massacres
that took place, or have shown us places associated with the police camps or the massacre sites, and often told us that they would like to know more about what happened. These requests eventually led to the archaeologists on this project coming together, talking with key Aboriginal people and communities, and developing a research project to address their interests — the project described in this paper is the result.
understanding of how representative those samples are of the overall site. The case study employs two geophysical survey methods, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity, to investigate buried shell deposits under experimental conditions. The survey results were used to create volume estimations and three‐dimensional (3D) models of buried shell deposits. This method is novel to shell matrix research and the current case study was designed to test the viability of the
method under differing conditions. As well as testing the two geophysical methods, surveys were conducted under different moisture levels, soil types and survey transect spacings. Results showed
that the 3D models and volume estimates of the deposit were successful in creating a representative understanding of the nature of the buried deposit, but with varying degrees of accuracy. GPR results created more accurate volume estimates and 3D models than the electrical resistivity
results. Both geophysical methods produced more accurate results under drier conditions, though the electrical resistivity produced more visually distinct results with higher moisture levels. Analysis of the volume results revealed an error margin (to a confidence level of 95%) of 9.5% ± 15.5% for the GPR, and 44.5% ± 31.5% to 56 ± 70.5% for the electrical resistivity, depending on the interpretation method used to create the models.
This project was a long time in development. Several of our team members have worked in Queensland for many decades and, in every Aboriginal community in which we’ve worked, stories are told about the ‘killing times’ or the ‘war’, as community members call the period when the Native Mounted Police (NMP, also referred to as the ‘Native Police’) were operating. Many community members have asked us over the years to record their stories about the massacres
that took place, or have shown us places associated with the police camps or the massacre sites, and often told us that they would like to know more about what happened. These requests eventually led to the archaeologists on this project coming together, talking with key Aboriginal people and communities, and developing a research project to address their interests — the project described in this paper is the result.
understanding of how representative those samples are of the overall site. The case study employs two geophysical survey methods, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity, to investigate buried shell deposits under experimental conditions. The survey results were used to create volume estimations and three‐dimensional (3D) models of buried shell deposits. This method is novel to shell matrix research and the current case study was designed to test the viability of the
method under differing conditions. As well as testing the two geophysical methods, surveys were conducted under different moisture levels, soil types and survey transect spacings. Results showed
that the 3D models and volume estimates of the deposit were successful in creating a representative understanding of the nature of the buried deposit, but with varying degrees of accuracy. GPR results created more accurate volume estimates and 3D models than the electrical resistivity
results. Both geophysical methods produced more accurate results under drier conditions, though the electrical resistivity produced more visually distinct results with higher moisture levels. Analysis of the volume results revealed an error margin (to a confidence level of 95%) of 9.5% ± 15.5% for the GPR, and 44.5% ± 31.5% to 56 ± 70.5% for the electrical resistivity, depending on the interpretation method used to create the models.
Research to investigate the identifying characteristics and distribution of mounds on the eastern Riverine Plain has found that various cultural and non-cultural types occur in close association within both floodplain and semi-arid plain environments. In many cases, identification is impeded by both visibility and landscape features that mimic characteristics that are common to Aboriginal mounds and their contents. In this paper, we discuss the use of geophysical survey involving both gradiometry and magnetic susceptibility, to identify and record the physical form and features of different mound types. Along with geochemical and archaeological investigations, geophysical survey has been highly useful for distinguishing structural differences between mounds formed through anthropogenic burning and those formed by natural or historic processes.
As foreign investment increases across Myanmar, urban infill, urban expansion and tourism, create significant challenges for the management of Yangon’s cultural heritage. Using a combination of archival research, visual inspection and archaeological geophysical survey this project has sought to:
verify the efficacy of geophysical survey methods within Historic Yangon, identify intact archaeological deposits and to
determine what role geophysical survey can play in documenting and helping to preserve Yangon’s heritage values.
Our findings indicate that preserved archaeological material does exist in the subsurface deposits of Historic Yangon which hold the potential to provide critical information detailing the long term development and changes the city has experienced. We have also shown that non-invasive archaeological geophysics using ground-penetrating radar and magnetometry can be successfully applied in Historic Yangon and that they should be included in the heritage management process.
The Lighthouse Park project area consists of 1.07 ha (2.65 ac) of land located on the eastern side of Porter Avenue where it intersects with U.S. Highway 90 (Beach Boulevard). From December 2008 to February 2009, CEI conducted its initial investigations within the project area. Two known sites—the Jim Parker Site (22HR529) and the Chamber of Commerce Site (22HR998)—are located within the project area, and the Moran Site (22HR511) abuts the northwest corner of the project area. In addition to these sites, two new sites—the Lighthouse Keeper’s House Site (22HR1026) and the Dantzler House Site
(22HR1027)—were recorded during CEI’s initial investigations.
Prior to CEI’s initial investigations, the Jim Parker Site (22HR529) was considered to be extensively disturbed from the construction of two gas stations and no further work was recommended there. Intact archaeological features/deposits were encountered at sites
22HR998, 22HR1026 and 22HR1027 in 2008-2009. CEI recommended that all three of these sites were potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP). CEI also recommended that further work be conducted prior to construction of the new visitor’s center and park. The SHPO concurred with those recommendations in April
2009.
In August 2009, the City of Biloxi contracted CEI to conduct intensive archaeological investigations within the Lighthouse Park and Visitor’s Center project area as recommended and agreed upon by MDAH and FEMA in the spring of 2009. These investigations were conducted from August 2009 to February 2010. A total of 30 archaeological features were encountered within those portions of the Chamber of Commerce Site (22HR998) and the Dantzler House Site (22HR1027) that were subject to the intensive investigations. No new features were recorded at the Lighthouse Keeper’s House Site (22HR1026); however, only about 10 percent of the site was examined during these investigations, and the remainder of the site remains undisturbed. As portions of all three of these sites remain undisturbed, the Chamber of Commerce Site (22HR998), the Lighthouse Keeper’s House Site (22HR1026) and the Dantzler House Site (22HR1027) are still considered eligible for listing on the NRHP. If any further work is proposed at sites 22HR998, 22HR1026 and 22HR1027 in those areas, any potential effects should be assessed prior to any ground disturbing activities.
interchanges necessitated additional survey that was conducted in 2009 (Ryan et al. 2009). Additional changes to the proposed interchanges were again made and a complete Phase I archaeological survey was conducted for this project. The current alternative, designated as Alternatives B and C, is located between Mississippi Highway (MS) 373 and Mike Parra Road.
The project right-of-way (ROW) for the alternatives was 300 ft wide with an Area of Potential Effect (APE) of 75 ft. Investigations were conducted in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as well as with guidelines set forth by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) (Sims 2001); the Procedures of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (36 CFR 800); the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (PL 89-665), as amended; the Archaeological Resource
Protection Act of 1979, and other appropriate cultural resources legislation and guidelines including those set forth by the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA). No prehistoric cultural deposits considered eligible for the National Register Historic Places (NRHP) were discovered during the Columbus Bypass survey. However, outside the project APE an African-American cemetery known as the Sykes cemetery was identified
during this survey.
CEI originally surveyed the property in spring of 2007. Subsequent to this survey, significant earth-moving operations were undertaken at Tullis--presumably by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) or the City of Biloxi--in October and Novemeber of 2007. The portion of the site affected by such operations has been re-examined by CEI. In addition, the asphalt driveway located on the property was also removed and surveyed.
This survey determined that the subsurface foundations of the Tullis house was destroyed by earth-moving activities of 2007. Only the partial remains of the brick sidewalk surround the house were observed. The remaining two structures, the servants quarters and Crawford House, and a brick well also survive intact. As, site 22HR511 retains enough integrity to remain eligible for the NRHP, under criterion D, no portion of the property can be developed until additional archaeological investigations are undertaken. The limits of all areas with known intact deposits need to be defined. Testing is required in all portions of 22HR911 where no excavation have yet taken place, including those areas examined solely by remote sensing. Data-recovery excavations will then be necessary before any portion of the property with intact deposits can be cleared for future federally funded development.