Adobe and Sod: Recent Results from a Multi-instrument Geophysical Survey at Fort Larned National Historic Site, Kansas

Summary

This is an abstract from the "New and Emerging Geophysical and Geospatial Research in the National Parks" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Between 2021 and 2023 archeologists at the Midwest Archeological Center conducted a multi-instrument geophysical survey at Fort Larned National Historic Site in Kansas. The survey sought to expand on previous archeological investigations and to provide baseline documentation of archeological resources across multiple areas at Fort Larned. Our survey was primarily focused on accurately mapping some of the earliest non-extant adobe and sod structures at the fort, to assess their condition, and to identify other historically documented structures that have not been relocated. To achieve this goal, an earth resistance and ground-penetrating radar survey was conducted over an area of approximately 1.3 ha (3.2 acres). The results of this survey revealed significant details about several structures including exterior dimensions and interior room divisions. Additionally, we utilized a wide-area survey approach with magnetometry to address areas of the fort that previously received less attention. Using a cart-based, 16-channel magnetic gradiometer towed by a UTV, a cumulative area measuring approximately 54 ha (133 acres) was surveyed across the Fort Larned landscape. The resulting baseline geophysical inventory will be utilized in planning and management of archeological resources at Fort Larned.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• New and Emerging Geophysical and Geospatial Research in the National Parks   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39092.0