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- Title
GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR STUDIES AT THE HAMMER TEST BED FACILITY, RICHLAND, WASHINGTON.
- Authors
Conyers, Lawrence B.
- Abstract
The HAMMER geophysical test bed in Richland, Washington provides a facility to compare ground-penetrating radar (GPR) reflection images to known archaeological features in the ground. The test bed provides simulated buried features, including stone cairns and rings, burials, trash middens, artifacts and other materials, that were buried at depths from 12-36 inches in sandy ground and then re-buried with the same material. In 2002, grids of GPR data were collected in dry and wet ground conditions, and the amplitude maps from each were compared to the known buried features using 900, 500 and 400 MHz frequency reflection maps and profiles. The stone and metal objects and features were visible in most images, with only the 900 MHz maps failing to identify the deepest buried features due to energy attenuation with depth. When the ground was wet the metal features were still visible, but water hampered delineation of some features due to differential water distribution in some areas of the grid that had been compacted by mechanized machinery. The wooden features were invisible when the ground was dry, but visible when wet, as they retained water and produced distinct radar energy reflection surfaces. These variations in feature definition during different ground conditions are very important for GPR exploration and mapping in sandy ground and can be readily applied to many field conditions. The differences in antenna frequency also played a role in feature definition, especially with regard to depth. Features with no difference in materials along their boundaries, such as burials and the unfired earth oven, were invisible with GPR as there were no differences in materials from which to reflect radar energy.
- Subjects
RICHLAND (Wash.); GROUND penetrating radar; WATER utilities; HISTORICAL archaeology; INTERMENT at sea; WETTING
- Publication
Journal of Northwest Anthropology, 2013, Vol 47, Issue 2, p153
- ISSN
1538-2834
- Publication type
Article