A Geophysical Survey of Fort St. Joseph (20BE23), Niles, Michigan

Part of the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological project

Author(s): Daniel Lynch

Year: 2008

Summary

Fort St. Joseph is a 17th-18th century French (and later English) mission-garrison-trading post complex located in southwest Michigan. A geophysical survey was performed and the results of the survey were tested through archaeological excavation. The geophysical methods included ground penetrating radar, electromagnetic induction, electrical resistivity, magnetic gradiometry, and magnetic susceptibility. The results of the archaeological excavations demonstrate that magnetic gradiometry was the preferred geophysical method at this particular site. The magnetic gradiometer survey included both terrestrial and possible submerged portions the site. Laboratory analysis of the magnetic susceptibility and magnetic viscosity of soils and rocks demonstrated that the archaeological features at Fort St. Joseph have a statistically significant magnetic contrast with those of the natural soils. This study has the potential to contribute to the fields of French colonial archaeology, wet site archaeology, and soil and rock magnetism. Recommendations for future research are suggested, including investigating a possible submerged cultural resource located a few meters north of the existing riverbank.

Cite this Record

A Geophysical Survey of Fort St. Joseph (20BE23), Niles, Michigan. Daniel Lynch. 2008 ( tDAR id: 371795) ; doi:10.6067/XCV8445JD6

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

Culture
British Colonial • Euroamerican • French Colonial • Historic • Historic Native American • Miami • Potawatomi

Material
Building Materials • Ceramic • Dating Sample • Fauna • Fire Cracked Rock • Glass • Ground Stone • Macrobotanical • Metal • Shell • Wood

Site Name
Fort St. Joseph

Site Type
Archaeological Feature • Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex • Domestic Structures • Hearth • Historic Structure • Hunting / Trapping • Midden • Non-Domestic Structures • Palisade • Pit • Post Hole / Post Mold • Resource Extraction / Production / Transportation Structure or Features • Rock Alignment • Settlements • Structure • Trash Midden

Investigation Types
Data Recovery / Excavation • Ethnohistoric Research • Geophysical Survey • Historic Background Research • Reconnaissance / Survey • Research Design / Data Recovery Plan • Site Evaluation / Testing

General
Electrical Resistivity • Fur Trade • garrison • Geophysical Investigation • Geophysical Survey • Ground Penetrating Radar • Jesuit • Magnetometry • mission • Public Archaeology • Trading Post

Geographic Keywords
Great Lakes • Pays d'en Haut

Temporal Keywords
Colonial Period

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1691 to 1781

Spatial Coverage

min long: -86.285; min lat: 41.794 ; max long: -86.238; max lat: 41.827 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Principal Investigator(s): Michael Nassaney

File Information

  Name Size Creation Date Date Uploaded Access
a-geophysical-survey-of-fort-st-joseph-20be23-niles-michigan.pdf 4.06mb Nov 9, 2011 7:45:04 PM Public