Applications of LiDAR Imagery at the Beech Grove Confederate Camp, Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky

Summary

Before any archaeology was conducted at Beech Grove, aerial LiDAR data was acquired, to map known Confederate earthworks, identify earthworks that were not previously known, and otherwise guide the archaeological investigations.  The data sets consisted of 22 LiDAR point cloud LAS swath files which produced high accuracy 3D Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with 1.0 foot cell size. The LiDAR data helped identify at least three Civil War fortification features in the northern and eastern portions of the Beech Grove area, two probable Civil War fortification features in the western portion of Beech Grove, and a historic road. The LiDAR data provides an accurate location for these features so that they can be better managed and preserved.  Limited archaeological testing was conducted on one breastwork shown on the LiDAR; this work verified that the raised feature was a made-made breastwork rather than some sort of natural relief anomaly.  

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Beech Grove, Kentucky: Investigation and Interpretation of an Early Confederate Encampment   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

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Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 275