Beyond Never-Never Land: Integrating LiDAR and Geophysical Surveys at the Johnston Site, Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park, Tennessee, USA

Edward R Henry,Alice P Wright,Casey R Barrier,Stephen B Carmody,Christopher Van De Ven,Sarah C Sherwood

doi:10.3390/rs12152364

Abstract

Archaeologists often use near-surface geophysics or LiDAR-derived topographic imagery in their research. However, rarely are the two integrated in a way that offers a robust understanding of the complex historical palimpsests embedded within a social landscape. In this paper we present an integrated aerial and terrestrial remote sensing program at the Johnston Site, part of the larger Pinson Mounds landscape in the American MidSouth. Our work at Johnston was focused on better understanding the history of human landscape use and change so that we can begin to compare the Johnston Site with other large Middle Woodland (200 BC–AD 500) ceremonial centers in the region. Our research allowed us to examine the accuracy of an early map of the Johnston Site made in the early 20th century. However, our integrated remote sensing approach allows us to go well beyond testing the usefulness of the map; it helps identify different uses of the site through time and across space. Our research emphasizes the importance of an integrated remote sensing methodology when examining complex social landscapes of the past and present.

Highlights

IntroductionApplying topographic imagery derived from LiDAR (light detection and ranging) or geophysical remote sensing methods in archaeological research is well-established in archaeology [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21]
We present the results of our analyses of LiDAR-derived imagery and geophysical surveys at the Johnston Site
We begin with a comparison of the LiDAR-derived imagery and the 1917 map of the Johnston Site

Summary

Introduction

Applying topographic imagery derived from LiDAR (light detection and ranging) or geophysical remote sensing methods in archaeological research is well-established in archaeology [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21] They are increasingly being applied together to create more robust understandings of social landscapes—including the emergence and long-term modification of built environments in the archaeological past (cf [22,23,24]). Beginning to trace these changes allows us to lay the foundations for a landscape biography [32] of the Pinson Mounds vicinity that can be further developed with future research in this region

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion