Magnetics: not just for finding your way in the Subarctic

Date/Time: 
Thursday, May 6, 2021 - 15:30
Presentation Type: 
Oral (pre-recorded)
Author(s): 
Jamie Steinberg - Lakehead University
Scott Hamilton - Lakehead University
Key Word(s): 
Remote Sensing
Subarctic Archaeology

Subarctic Archaeology can be a daunting task at the best of times; consider the large geographic size, difficult landscapes and constantly changing soil conditions. Acidic soil conditions destroy much of the visible organic evidence available to archaeologists. As the technology has developed, many archaeologists have considered the earth’s geomagnetic properties to document anomalies that could derive from anthropogenic origins. One such property is magnetic susceptibility which has proven effective in detecting hearth features in Europe and other regions of North America. The efficacy of the handheld Terraplus KT-10 magnetic susceptibility meter is being evaluated for archaeogeophysical surveys in the Subarctic by means of experimental hearth fires under controlled conditions.