GIS and GPS Utilization in Archaeological Survey at MCB Quantico John H. Haynes, M.A., R.P.A. Archaeologist MCB, Quantico, NREA, NEPA Coordination Section
GIS and Background Study: Setting the Context
Using categories for NRHP status fields, significant sites can be differentiated from non-eligible sites in planning.
Detailed information on archaeological surveys, including field methods and report references are stored in the attributes table. A quick sense of the amount of survey coverage can be gained by differentiating cursory pedestrian surveys from systematic shovel testing by categorizing the survey area polygons.
Topo Survey Detailed, stunningly accurate half-meter contour topography is available for our Installation. Since these have been put in service several sites with surface features, such as mills and military trenches, have been tracked down.
RUBBER-SHEETING Making those old maps fit the times!
In 1861 General Samuel French made a carefully scaled sketch map of his main battery. This was scanned scaled and matched with the landform.
Project area map, including known sites, Area of Potential Effects, and previous archaeological survey areas.
Like a window through time, georeferenced aerial photography give a bird s eye view of the landscape in 1937. Land use, as well as direct evidence of structures is of considerable use to field survey.
Composite map of environmental factors: Steep slope (shading), Soils with positive correlation with prehistoric sites in the region, distance to water (100 meters) These factors, interpreted manually for identifying the amount of area, and locations, for systematic shovel testing (though not to override field observation).
GIS/GPS Utilization: Shovel Testing Survey On Inchon Trail The project: upgrade foot trail to vehicle trail Background: No roads or buildings, and all wooded in 1937 Site predictors small areas of level ground, but on a narrow ridge, not very near water, and not on correlated soils
Time to hit the trail excavate
Record data in fieldnotes
GPS readings are taken of test points, or datum, and feature or site perimeters
The grid can be oriented according to grid north, aided with two GPS data points, for a simple addition or subtraction of the datum coordinates. Intensive GPS data on one point tied to ground measured data is more consistent over a small areas. This allows tie-in to field sketch maps. On more intensively investigated sites, shovel tests, excavation squares, or surface finds are tape measured on a grid system from a GPS located datum.
Field sketch incorporation into GIS maps (example from another project) Tape, pencil, graph paper, GPS, scanner, GIS: Old and New Data Collection
With the site grid coordinates converted to UTM on a data base, the shovel test information is entered into additional fields, and imported into ArcView for a true Geographic Information System for Archaeological field data. This displays the type of test or observation, and finds if any in ArcMap and is available for other analytic and graphic programs. Effects to 44ST0663, a Middle Archaic site, were avoided, leaving it intact for further study.
THE HUNT FOR MACHQUEON: Smith s 1608 Exploration of Quantico A special theme study In 1608 Capt. John Smith and 15 explorers set out to map the Chesapeake Bay and discover anything and everything that might make their colony an economic success.
Upon entering the Potomac River they were especially keen to investigate any possible mineral resources. One was the reported source of a dark powder, containing flakes of what appeared to be a silver metal At Patawomeke, the Werowance gave Smith guides to the sources, up the Quiyough River, now known as Aquia Creek.
Leaving Patawomeke, they ascended Aquia Creek so far as their vessels could float. As in other places they explored, the map bears a cross at their furthest progress. An account in 1612 says the party traveled 9 or 10 miles. Smith s later edition, in which he gives more detail about the Indian quarry, quotes 7 or 8 miles
The mine is a great Rocky mountine like Antimony; whrein they digged a great hole with shells and hatchets: and hard by it runneth a fayre brooke of Christal-like like water
Perhaps the party had split, there are two crosses on the map, and only one journey described. Smith describes the ore, used by the Natives for warpaint, as being like antimony. where they wash a way the drosse and keepe the remainder, which they put in little baggs and sell it all over the country to paint there bodyes,, Faces or Idols This was undoubtedly Quantico slate, which isn t metal at all, but composed substantially of graphite. Nonetheless, it does give the appearance of metal, perhaps even silver, as the explorers had hoped.
Smith s expedition exploring the Chesapeake Bay is the subject of much research in preparation for the establishment of a unique national historic water trail. Quantico slate is found in limited areas, limiting the potential location of the Indian quarry From descriptions, and map measurements, it appears that Smith and company explored to two points on MCB Quantico.
End Note: Harrison Cemetery ca. 1706 This map includes site photos, captions, as well as direct plots from shape files downloaded from the GPS of headstone locations and the cemetery perimeter. Public information, or formal report, composite graphics bring various types of information together for a greater concept. THE END (YOU MAY NOW REST IN PEACE)