Abstract

A recent study, funded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, compared the results and costs of various methods for discovering and evaluating buried archaeological sites. These methods included remote sensing (magnetometry, resistivity, and GPR), small-diameter, solid-earth coring (GeoProbe), and backhoe trenching. This presentation compares the costs and benefits of the methods and discusses the protocol we propose for buried sites discovery and evaluation. Analysis of the data indicates that the implementation of a multi-disciplinary approach to the exploration for and evaluation of buried archaeological sites meets the goals of the investigative process in a cost effective fashion. Implementation of this protocol since its development continues to demonstrate its effectiveness.