Acquisition of Geophysical Survey Equipment and Computer Processing Support for Archaeology

在国家科学基金重大研究仪器奖的支持下，肯塔基大学将购买三台地球物理测量仪器，并创建一个计算机实验室，为考古研究处理地球物理数据。地球物理和计算机设备将构成一个新的考古地球物理实验室的核心，该实验室位于英国威廉·S·韦伯人类学博物馆。人类学和地理学系的教职员工、学生和研究人员将是这种设备的主要用户；然而，英国其他系和肯塔基州周边机构的研究人员可以出于研究目的使用这种设备。地球物理测量是指测量地面近地表物理性质变化的多种技术，如矿物磁性、电磁传导性、电阻和地面密度。地下特征，如石头或砖基础；沉积结构和地面湿度的变化，如考古沉积物、战壕、丘陵和墓穴；以及其他地下特征具有地球物理仪器可以检测到的特征特征。根据现场测量的地球物理性质的变化，可以准确地定位和绘制埋藏的地物和矿藏，而不需要广泛的挖掘或其他地面干扰方法。研究人员可以使用在地球物理调查中获得的信息来设计具有成本效益的挖掘策略，揭示大规模的社区模式，并确定具有文化敏感性的人类埋葬地点。目前计划在实地研究中利用地球物理勘测的项目包括：调查肯塔基州中部绿河地区的史前贝壳栖息地；沿海贝壳栖息地和佐治亚州萨佩洛岛的一个早期西班牙使命遗址；肯塔基州蓝草山脉和东部山脉史前古遗址的社区结构；查明肯塔基州尼尔森内战公园的防御工事、监狱地基和墓地；以及墨西哥韦拉克鲁斯奥尔梅克遗址Tres Zapotes的研究。未来的项目包括对西弗吉尼亚州莫农加赫拉国家森林史前晚期遗址的调查；对大峡谷国家公园普韦布洛遗址的调查；在印第安纳州和肯塔基州俄亥俄河瀑布的埋藏贝类中型遗址的鉴定；肯塔基州猛犸洞穴国家公园埋藏的硝石开采工程的鉴定；购买三台新的地球物理仪器--一个电阻率测量系统、一个磁测量系统和一个探地雷达单元--将补充博物馆现有的地球物理测量能力，使英国能够在将地球物理技术应用于考古研究方面发挥领导作用，开发应用这些技术的专门知识，并为学生提供培训和机会，将这项技术应用到他们的研究中。对研究生和本科生进行这些技术的培训将为他们提供在就业市场上成功竞争所需的技能，因为这些技术在实地工作中已成为惯例。土地经理、遗产专业人士和美国印第安人部落代表越来越喜欢应用这些技术，因为它们是非侵入性的、具有成本效益的，并有助于保护敏感的文化资源。

With the support of a National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation award, the University of Kentucky will acquire three geophysical survey instruments and create a computer laboratory to process geophysical data for archaeological research. The geophysical and computer equipment will form the nucleus of a new Archaeological Geophysics Laboratory housed in the William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology at UK. Faculty, students, and research staff in the departments of Anthropology and Geography will be the primary users of this equipment; however, researchers in other UK departments and in surrounding Kentucky institutions can have access to this equipment for research purposes. Geophysical survey refers to multiple techniques that measure variation in near-surface physical properties of the ground, such as mineral magnetics, electromagnetic conductivity, electrical resistance, and ground density. Buried features, like stone or brick foundations; variation in sedimentary structure and ground moisture, such as in archaeological deposits, trenches, mounds, and burial vaults; and other subsurface features have characteristic signatures that geophysical instruments can detect. Based on the measured variation in geophysical properties over a site, buried features and deposits can be accurately located and mapped without extensive excavation or other ground disturbing methods. Researchers can use the information acquired during a geophysical survey to design cost-effective excavation strategies, reveal large-scale community patterning, and identify culturally sensitive human burial sites. Projects currently planned to use geophysical survey in field research include investigation of prehistoric shell midden sites in the Green River region of central Kentucky; coastal shell midden sites and an early Spanish Mission site on Sapelo Island, Georgia; community structure of late prehistoric Fort Ancient sites in the Bluegrass and Eastern Mountains of Kentucky; identification of fortifications, prison foundations, and cemetery areas at Camp Nelson Civil War Park, Kentucky; and research at the Olmec site of Tres Zapotes, Veracruz, Mexico. Future projects include investigation of Late Prehistoric sites in Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia; investigation of pueblo sites in Grand Canyon National Park; identification of buried shell midden sites in the Falls of the Ohio River region of Indiana and Kentucky; identification of buried saltpeter mining works at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky; and survey of West Virginia frontier forts.The acquisition of three new geophysical instruments - a resistivity survey system, a magnetic survey system, and a ground penetrating radar unit - will complement the Museum's existing geophysical survey capabilities and allow UK to take a leading role in applying geophysical techniques to archaeological research, develop expertise in the application of these techniques, and provide training and opportunities for students to incorporate this technology into their research. Training of graduate and undergraduate students in these technologies will provide them with the skills necessary to successfully compete in the job market as these technologies become routine in fieldwork. Land managers, heritage professionals, and American Indian Tribal representatives increasingly prefer the application of these technologies because they are non-invasive, cost effective, and help to preserve sensitive cultural resources.