Geophysical and Archaeological Investigations of Enslaved Peoples at Cannons Point Preserve, Georgia
Location
Culp Center Ballroom
Start Date
4-25-2023 9:00 AM
End Date
4-25-2023 11:00 AM
Poster Number
46
Faculty Sponsor’s Department
Geosciences
Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor
Eileen Ernenwein
Additional Sponsors
Dr. Lindsey Cochran, Dr. Christopher Widga
Competition Type
Competitive
Type
Poster Presentation
Project's Category
Geophysics
Abstract or Artist's Statement
Geophysical and Archaeological Investigations of Enslaved Peoples at Cannons Point Preserve, Georgia
Amy Sowers Collins1, Dr. Eileen G Ernenwein1, and Dr. Lindsey Cochran2, Department of Geosciences1 and Department of Sociology and Anthropology2, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
Cannons Point Preserve at St. Simons Island, Georgia was the site for the 2022 East Tennessee State University archaeological field school. The study area was believed to have once housed enslaved peoples at the plantation. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetometry surveys were performed at the preserve. These geophysical surveys are a common first step in archaeological research, because they can detect and map buried historic and prehistoric features prior to excavation. A real time kinematic (RTK) global navigation satellite system (GNSS) instrument was used to place stakes in the ground demarcating 10m x 10m grids for data collection. GPR data were collected using a GSSI-SIR-4000 system with a 400 MHz center-frequency antenna in south-north traverses spaced 0.5m apart. The system was set to record 100 scans per meter, 512 samples per-scan, using a 50 ns range. Magnetometry data were collected using a Bartington Grad601-2 fluxgate magnetometer in south-north traverses every 0.5m. Magnetometry collects eight readings per meter along transects. GPR data were processed using GPR-Slice software and magnetometry data were processed with ArchaeoFusion. Magnetometry anomalies that could be archaeological features were detected on the west and north side of the survey site. Two rectangular features were detected at 1-1.10m below the surface with GPR. Several linear features were also detected with GPR in the central and southeastern sections of the site. Although no test units were excavated deeper than 0.6m, some of the anomalies in the 0.3m-0.4m GPR slice were verified by excavation. Excavations in focused areas detected with magnetometry yielded ferrous (iron-containing) materials, burned pottery sherds, and burned bricks, as expected at a historic site. GPR and magnetometry successfully mapped buried archaeological features and helped direct excavations. Insight into the material possessions and living conditions of enslaved peoples on the island helps tell the history of those who were not recorded in the written record.
Geophysical and Archaeological Investigations of Enslaved Peoples at Cannons Point Preserve, Georgia
Culp Center Ballroom
Geophysical and Archaeological Investigations of Enslaved Peoples at Cannons Point Preserve, Georgia
Amy Sowers Collins1, Dr. Eileen G Ernenwein1, and Dr. Lindsey Cochran2, Department of Geosciences1 and Department of Sociology and Anthropology2, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
Cannons Point Preserve at St. Simons Island, Georgia was the site for the 2022 East Tennessee State University archaeological field school. The study area was believed to have once housed enslaved peoples at the plantation. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetometry surveys were performed at the preserve. These geophysical surveys are a common first step in archaeological research, because they can detect and map buried historic and prehistoric features prior to excavation. A real time kinematic (RTK) global navigation satellite system (GNSS) instrument was used to place stakes in the ground demarcating 10m x 10m grids for data collection. GPR data were collected using a GSSI-SIR-4000 system with a 400 MHz center-frequency antenna in south-north traverses spaced 0.5m apart. The system was set to record 100 scans per meter, 512 samples per-scan, using a 50 ns range. Magnetometry data were collected using a Bartington Grad601-2 fluxgate magnetometer in south-north traverses every 0.5m. Magnetometry collects eight readings per meter along transects. GPR data were processed using GPR-Slice software and magnetometry data were processed with ArchaeoFusion. Magnetometry anomalies that could be archaeological features were detected on the west and north side of the survey site. Two rectangular features were detected at 1-1.10m below the surface with GPR. Several linear features were also detected with GPR in the central and southeastern sections of the site. Although no test units were excavated deeper than 0.6m, some of the anomalies in the 0.3m-0.4m GPR slice were verified by excavation. Excavations in focused areas detected with magnetometry yielded ferrous (iron-containing) materials, burned pottery sherds, and burned bricks, as expected at a historic site. GPR and magnetometry successfully mapped buried archaeological features and helped direct excavations. Insight into the material possessions and living conditions of enslaved peoples on the island helps tell the history of those who were not recorded in the written record.