North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Abstract/Summary:
Project Name: Valley Forge National Historic Park, PA;
Reference: Parrington, M. (1979). Geophysical and Aerial Prospecting Techniques at Valley Forge National Historical Park, Pennsylvania. Journal of Field Archaeology 6(2):193-201. Reproduced from Journal of Field Archaeology with the permission of the Trustees of Boston University. All rights reserved.
A survey of Valley Forge National Historical Park was carried out by MASCA in 1978 for the National Park Service utilizing, among other techniques, aerial photography, the cesium magnetometer, and ground penetrating radar. The aim of the project was to locate evidnece of the encampment of 1777-78, using for the most part non-destructive methods. Hut sites and offal pits dating from the Revolutionary War period were identified and a comprehensive survey of previous archaeological work at Valley Forge was carried out. A major problem in interpreting the data from the various techniques employed was the amount of modern distrubance at the park, mostly dating from the three Boy Scout Jamborees held there in 1950, 1957, and 1964. Despite these problems, valuable information about the Revolutionary War remains was recovered, and a comprehensive plan for future research was formulated.