During the Funston Avenue investigations, geophysical remote sensing was used to "look" at the properties of buried objects and soils without disturbing the ground. Archaeologists use sensitive geophysical sensing equipment to help locate archaeological remains and to help determine where to dig. This project will use ground-penetrating radar and a magnetometer.

Ground-penetrating radar works by sending radar pulses into the ground as we pull the instrument along a survey grid. Variations in the radar waves' speed may indicate the location and size of buried foundations, privies, and other features, as well as different layers of the soil.

The magnetometer in action.

The magnetometer is especially sensitive to iron-based metal and changes in the earth's magnetic field. It can detect buried objects, differences in soil types, and areas that have been affected by fire. Together, these two techniques help us to "see" beneath the ground's surface.

If you can "see" what's under the ground, why dig?

Even the most refined geophysical survey provides only suggestions about what lies under the ground. Excavation allows us to visually inspect the ground, note types and changes in deposits, and recover artifacts and plant remains for analysis. This helps us to identify the age of archaeological deposits and their relationship to specific groups of people. "Digging" remains a vital component of archaeological study, providing information not available by any other means.