The Whistling Elk
Subsurface Imaging Project

by Kenneth L. Kvamme

Interpretations

The resistivity data clearly define numerous houses and the fortification ditches, including 9 bastion loops. The conductivity data are less clear, possibly owing to a peak sensitivity near a depth of 40 cm, somewhat above the cultural features. One consequence is that historic plow marks, above the cultural levels, are readily apparent and illustrate two distinct fields (one plowed east-west and the other north-south). Several houses not clearly defined by the resistivity data are better revealed by conductivity methods. The magnetic information , while appearing very noisy at a global scale due to historic iron debris and a plow mark response, offer a wealth of information at larger scales. Portions of a burned palisade are discernable as well as interior house features like hearths and post holes, as illustrated in the "Big House".

In all of the data sets the berm constructed by the COE for bank stabilization is readily apparent, and the steel wire and post fence impacts all of the data sets due to the sensitivity to ferrous metals of magnetic and conductivity methods and a vegetation response measured by resistivity (a dense tangle of weeds near the fence probably lowered ground moisture thereby raising resistivity in this area). Some of the noise seen in the northwest quadrant of the resistivity and conductivity data is due to an unusually high density of rodent activity in this area. The somewhat washed-out response to the north of the fence line seen in the resistivity data is probably due to the fact that this field has been under continuous cultivation and, indeed, was under oats during our survey (we were allowed survey of this field after the oats were cut). An extra 30 years of continuous plowing and probably a different moisture regime may be responsible for the weaker signature seen. Finally, the high contrast feature seen in the two partial grids at the eastern extreme of our resistivity survey area represents the cutbank along the creek that occurs a few meters to the east.

The discovery and definition of an inner fortification system with bastion loops and an increased density of houses within (partially due to the superpositioning of later houses over earlier ones) supports the inference of an attack on this village made by the 1970s excavators (see, "About the Whistling Elk Site"). It is quite possible that Whistling Elk was reoccupied by survivors and consolidated into a tighter, more defensible settlement, a circumstance seen in other villages in the region.

This project was supported by a technology transfer grant from the National
Center for Preservation Technology and Training, National Park Service.

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