North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Abstract/Summary:
Project Name: Deer Creek Site (34KA3), OK;
Reference: Bevan, B.W. (1983). Electromagnetics for Mapping Buried Earth Features. Journal of Field Archaeology 10(1):47-54. Reproduced from Journal of Field Archaeology with the permission of the Trustees of Boston University. All rights reserved.
Electromagnetic surveys are fast method of locating and mapping some large earth features such as leveled mounds and refilled ditches. They can be a substitute for resistivity surveys and are particularly suitable where the surface soil is dry, hard, or rocky, or where the vegetation is moderately dense. As in all geophysical techniques, it is necessary that the features to be located are sufficiently different from the surrounding terrain. Results from three sites will illustrate the capabilities of electromagnetic surveys.
The Deer Creek site in northern Oklahoma is the location of a former settlement of Witchita-speaking Indians. This protohistoric site is adjacent to Kaw Reservoir. An EM traverse was made across part of this site; the four known, but leveled, mounds were detected as high conductivity segments. This area had formerly been plowed; at a time when the soil was bare, these four features were mapped; their visibilty was probably a result primarily of soil discoloration. There is no detectable surface relief and since the area is overgrown with weeds, the mounds are now not visible. Since the locations of these four mounds were known, the main anomalies provide little additional information; the high conductivity, however, suggests the possiblility that all are middens.