"On Examining the Records of the Town we find an Omiſsion": Using Historical GIS (hGIS) in Conjunction with Archaeolgoical Excavation to Document Property Histories and Understand Changing Waterlines in Alexandria, Virginia.

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Urban Archaeology: Down by the Water" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

For terrestrial archaeologists working in urban and waterfront settings, the water’s edge frequently represents a boundary that is seemingly fixed and insurmountable, beyond which is figuratively (and sometimes literally) outside of their jurisdiction. However, the water should be seen as the connective tissue that link these port towns and make them viable economic centers. Furthermore, the boundary between land and water cannot be thought of as a static line like it is frequently shown on historic maps. Just as there is topography on the land that shapes human activity, there is topography (or bathymetry) under the water that shapes human activity. Fortunately, many of these urban centers have a rich historic record, including historic maps, deeds, and other municipal records. Using historical GIS (hGIS) in conjunction with archaeological excavation, researchers can better understand the historical development of these urban centers and the complex relationship between the land and the water.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020   •
• Urban Archaeology: Down by the Water

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 795