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Magnetic Evidence of Ridge Construction and Use at Poverty Point

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Michael L. Hargrave ,
Tad Britt  and
Matthew D. Reynolds
Michael L. Hargrave
Affiliation:
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, PO Box 9005, Champaign, IL 61826-9005 (Michael.L.Hargrave@erdc.usace.army.mil, John.T.Britt@erdc.usace.army.mil)
Tad Britt
Affiliation:
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, PO Box 9005, Champaign, IL 61826-9005 (Michael.L.Hargrave@erdc.usace.army.mil, John.T.Britt@erdc.usace.army.mil)
Matthew D. Reynolds
Affiliation:
Tierra Right of Way Services, 1575 E. River Road, Suite 201, Tucson, AZ 85718-5831 (mreynolds@tierra-row.com)
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Abstract

A magnetic field gradient survey was conducted at Poverty Point to determine if that technique could detect discrete subsurface features and differentiate the ridges and swales in an area that today exhibits very little topographic relief. The survey area (280 m long by 20 to 60 m wide) crossed Ridges 1 through 5 in the southwest portion of the site. The ridges were revealed as variegated bands of positive and negative magnetic anomalies whereas the swales appeared to be relatively homogeneous. Ridge 1, nearest the plaza, is wider and higher but has less of a flank midden than the other ridges. Two roughly circular arrangements of anomalies on Ridge I are potentially important but cannot be reliably interpreted without ground truthing excavations. Future large-area, high-resolution magnetic gradient surveys could dramatically enhance our understanding of this enigmatic site.

Résumé

Résumé

Una prospección geofísica del gradiente del campo magnético fue realizada para determinar si esa técnica puede detectar rasgos debajo de la superficie y diferenciar las elevaciones y planos en un área que hoy expone poco relieve topográfico. El área de la prospección (280 m de largo por 20 a 60 m de ancho) cruzó las Elevaciones 1 a 5 en la parte suroeste del sitio. Las elevaciones fueron reveladas como bandas variadas de anomalías magnéticas positivas y negativas, mientras que los planos parecían relativamente homogéneos. Elevación 1, la mas cercana a la plaza, es mas alta y ancha pero esta rodeada por menos basurales que las otras elevaciones. Dos arreglos aproximadamente circulares de anomalías sobre la Elevación 1 son potencialmente importantes pero no pueden ser interpretados seguramente sin excavaciones para verificar. Futuras prospecciones geofísicas de alta-resolución en áreas grandes pueden aumentar dramáticamente nuestro entendimiento de este sitio enigmático.

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Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 72 , Issue 4 , October 2007 , pp. 757 - 770
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2007

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