Ground Penetrating Radar Investigation Phase I Testing of the Parade Ground, Phase II Testing of Locus 3 and Continental Par, Fort Monroe/Historic Fort George, Fort Monroe, Virginia 23651

Summary

Numerous potential features have been interpreted from GPR data and time-depth slice images. While most of the targets identified are likely attributed to Fort Monroe activities, there is a strong possibility that some of these GPR targets are from historic Fort George.

At the Continental Park - Locus 3 Site, a linear feature observed north of Fenwick Street, trending parallel to, and about 13 feet north of, the sidewalk, appears to be more characteristic of a brick wall or wall foundation, similar to one that was detected in a shovel test by Schenian 2002b in the same area, rather than to a water utility reportedly trending through the area.

An approximately 35-foot diameter circular anomaly is observed on time-depth slices beginning at the 4.0 to 4.5 foot slice in the southwest portion of Continental Park that may represent stonework from a former cistern or some other feature from historic Fort George.

Another large GPR anomaly, approximately 10 to 15 foot wide and 100 feet in length, was observed trending northeast-southwest across the southern portion of Continental Park. The origin of this feature is unknown, although, it is possible that it is a naturally occurring stratigraphic feature.

In the Parade Ground, the location of modern-day utilities, such as electrical, communication, and gas utilities, was documented on the interpreted GPR figure (Figure 5) as well as on time- depth slices. The concrete structure trending from 4+25N and 2+25E to the electrical manhole at 2+42E and 5+05N and to about 2+45E and 5+20N at an approximate 1.5 to 2 foot depth is undoubtably an electrical conduit encased in a concrete duct bank.

The linear high-amplitude reflector shown on the deeper time-depth slices of the Parade Ground, trending parallel to Line 4+25N between 4+40E and 5+00E, is of unknown origin, as is the northwest-southeast trending linear anomaly observed between 3+90N and 5+00E and 3+20N and 5+20E. The latter feature is located in proximity of a linear feature observed on an aerial photo shown to us by U.S. Army, Installation Management personnel.

A semi-circular anomaly, centered at 4+25E and 3+20N, was observed on time-depth slices from 1.5 to 4.5 feet. While this anomaly is of uncertain origin, it could feasibly represent a former cistern. Likewise, the linear anomaly of uncertain origin observed on time-depth slices 4.5 to 7.5 feet parallel to Line 4+25E could feasibly represent a buried wall, although, no evidence was observed on individual GPR records that would support this conclusion.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Phase I Investigation of Parade Ground and Continental Park Loci 1-19, Fort Monroe (FM2005.001)   •
• Fort Lee Regional Archaeological Curation Facility   •
• Fort Monroe, Hampton, Virginia

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Patty Conte; United States Army, Installation Management Agency, Northeast Regional Office, Fort Monroe, Virginia; Frank J. Schieppati; Michelle Hayward

Collaborator(s): PANAMERICAN CONSULTANTS, INC.

Repository(s): Fort Lee Regional Archaeological Curation Facility

Prepared By(s): Radar Solutions International

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