Geophysical Technique
Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR)
Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) uses electromagnetic radar waves to map boundaries between contrasting underground materials. GPR is handy for measuring changes in soil density that could indicate buried features. For example, open spaces like buried cellars or pits, or solid objects like walls or building foundations show up as anomalies in the data because they contrast with the surrounding soil.
Pros: Areas that have been disturbed would have a different reading than the ground around it, leaving old trenches, roadways, and pits visible under the soil for a long time.
Cons: Tree roots or other shallow objects can obscure deeper archaeological remains.
See What Meg Sees: Instructions for Interpreting the Data
Using the tool below, click on individual grids for a closer look at the GPR data Meg and her team gathered at Camp Lawton. You can toggle between an arieal view of the landsape, the map of the data only, and then read Meg's interpertation of each of the data points as you learn more about what each grid reveals. Each grid you click on will become highlighted.