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Integrating ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetic mapping to understand prehistoric mounds, Mapoon area, Queensland, Australia
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetic surveying of 17 earth mounds on the northern Cape York Peninsula show that prior to the construction of the mound areas were used as food processing or ritual activities that included organic matter and burning. Later, perhaps with increased population and cultural complexity, these areas were transformed into raised mounds, some of which were used for burials. A few mounds do not show evidence of underlying activity areas consisting of burned or organic-rich areas and not all contain burials. Most, however, fit the model of transformation of important places on the landscape into raised structures…
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Hominid Footprint Model Used to Test Antenna Frequencies and Field Methods for the Laetoli Site
A footprint model was created in mud and covered in volcanic sand as a way to mimic conditions at the Laetoli, Tanzania site. Many antenna frequencies were tested with the buried prints uncovered, covered by plywood, and by a yoga mat. It was found that the yoga mat with the 2.6 GHz antennas produced the best results to image the footprints.
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A Test of Geophysical Prospecting for the Detection of Prehistoric Canals on the Gila River Reservation, Arizona
This report documents a project to apply geophysical prospecting techniques at known locations of prehistoric canals in the Gila River Reservation. The project goal was to test the ability of several geophysical prospecting techniques to image buried canals in the Gila River floodplain. Four geophysical prospecting approaches were tested: ground penetrating radar, seismic reflection imaging, magnet gradiometry, and electrical conductivity.
