MRI: Acquisition of Geophysical Instruments for Archaeological Research and Student Training at the University of Southern Indiana

MRI：南印第安纳大学采购用于考古研究和学生培训的地球物理仪器

• 批准号: 1429058
• 负责人: Michael Strezewski
• 金额: $ 2.99万
• 依托单位: University of Southern Indiana
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1429058&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Geophysical; Instruments; Archaeological

Geophysical instruments are routinely used in archaeological research to measure different properties of the soil. These instruments can "see" beneath the surface without excavation or disturbance to the site and are used in archaeology for locating intact deposits, revealing information about site organization, and aiding in the placement of excavation units. The University of Southern Indiana (USI) will utilize NSF-MRI funds to purchase a resistivity meter, which is one of most common methods of geophysical prospection used in the Midwest. This instrument will significantly add to the university's ability to produce high quality research and well-trained and employable students. The Principal Investigator is currently engaged in a number of research projects that will be greatly facilitated by the acquisition of this instrument. Primary among these is a planned multi-year program of research at Mann, a pre-contact Native American site, dating to A.D. 100-500. Mann is, without a doubt, the most significant site of this time period in the state of Indiana and one of the most important in the midcontinent as a whole. The site is remarkable for its sheer size (430 acres) and the presence of many large earthen mounds. However, the singularly distinctive characteristic of the Mann site is the presence of dense and widespread habitation areas in association with large-scale earthwork construction, a combination of traits not seen elsewhere in the Middle Woodland. Despite the site's unique character, there has been relatively little archaeological research performed at Mann. Recently, the State of Indiana has acquired portions of the site with the goal of preservation in mind. Now that this window of opportunity has opened up, USI is ready to undertake much-needed research at this important site. Geophysical survey at Mann will allow the State to better develop plans for the interpretation and preservation of the site and will assist in developing future land acquisition priorities should the opportunity arise for the purchase of additional parcels. Finally, teis instrument will also be integrated into the teaching/training of USI's undergraduate students. These courses will give anthropology students hands-on experience with cutting-edge instruments used in archaeology and prepare them for future work in the field. Results of the research will be made available to the public through online distribution of the resulting data and reports, and a series of public lectures geared toward a lay audience.

地球物理仪器在考古研究中经常被用来测量土壤的不同性质。这些仪器可以“看到”地表以下，而不需要挖掘或干扰遗址，在考古学中用于定位完整的沉积物，揭示有关遗址组织的信息，并帮助安置挖掘单位。南印第安纳大学（USI）将利用NSF-MRI基金购买电阻率计，这是中西部地区最常用的地球物理勘探方法之一。这一工具将大大增加大学的能力，以产生高质量的研究和训练有素和就业的学生。首席研究员目前正在从事一些研究项目，这些项目将因获得该仪器而大大便利。其中最主要的是一个计划多年的曼恩研究项目，曼恩是一个印第安人接触前的遗址，可以追溯到公元100-500年。毫无疑问，曼恩是这一时期印第安纳州最重要的遗址，也是整个中部大陆最重要的遗址之一。该遗址因其庞大的规模（430英亩）和许多大型土丘的存在而引人注目。然而，曼恩遗址独特的特点是存在密集和广泛的居住区，与大规模的土方施工有关，这些特征的组合在中部林地的其他地方是看不到的。尽管该遗址具有独特的特征，但在曼恩进行的考古研究相对较少。最近，印第安纳州以保护为目标收购了该遗址的一部分。现在这个机会之窗已经打开，USI准备在这个重要的地点进行急需的研究。在曼恩进行的地球物理调查将使该州能够更好地制定解释和保护该地点的计划，如果有机会购买额外的地块，将有助于制定未来的土地收购优先事项。最后，该仪器也将被整合到USI本科生的教学/培训中。这些课程将为人类学学生提供在考古中使用尖端仪器的实践经验，并为他们将来在该领域的工作做好准备。研究结果将通过在线分发所得数据和报告以及面向非专业听众的一系列公开讲座向公众公布。