Ground-Truthing, Bringing Geophysics Data and Site Reality Together: Preliminary Results from Pedestrian Survey and Excavations from the 2025 Eastern Kentucky University Archaeological Field School

Author

• Maddox Hillard, Eastern Kentucky UniversityFollow
• Leslie Anderson, Eastern Kentucky UniversityFollow
• Aaron Comstock, University of LouisvilleFollow
• Jon Endonino, Eastern Kentucky UniversityFollow
• Claiborne D. SeaFollow
• Sarah Shepherd, Eastern Kentucky UniversityFollow
• Kimberly L. Swisher, Eastern Kentucky UniversityFollow

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Creation Date

2025

Major

Anthropology

Department

Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work

Degree

Undergraduate

Mentor

Kimberly L. Swisher

Mentor Department

Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work

Abstract

In the Summer of 2025, the Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Archaeology Field School conducted archaeological investigations of a site being developed by the City of Richmond, Kentucky. Students collaborated with professionals from other universities to conduct geophysical surveys utilizing GPR and Magnetic gradiometry. These surveys identified multiple potential anomalies for further investigation. Utilizing pedestrian survey and subsurface methods such as shovel test pits (STPs) and test units (TUs), students verified some of these anomalies as cultural and positively identified historic and pre-colonial cultural materials. The preliminary results and interpretations of the site’s occupational history are presented and discussed.