Research Experience for Undergraduates in Ocean, Marine, and Polar Science 2014

Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets at Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Ground Penetrating Radar Survey of Edenton Green for Early Structural Remains

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Mentors: Dr. Malcolm LeCompte & Ryan Lawrence
Principal Investigator: Dr. Linda B. Hayden

Keywords: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), remote sensing, archaeology, satellite and aerial photography, Digital Ortho-Quarter Quads (DOQQ) images, image to map registration, Colonial Edenton Courthouse Green.

Abstract (Extended Abstract)
The historic town of Edenton, NC was established in 1712; however there have been indications of earlier colonial presence, perhaps dating back to 1658. Recent unauthorized excavation by a utility company on the Edenton Green, Edenton, NC (36° 03’ 26” N, 076° 36’ 29” W) unearthed the presence of a layer of thin red bricks, presumably the flooring or fireplace apron for a former structure at the site. An early, circa-1767, colonial map depicted a small building on the upper green near the present courthouse; however, no physical aboveground structure remains. The objective of this study is to determine the shape, extent, and depth of any unknown subsurface remnants. A 16 x 21m ground penetrating radar survey consisting of 32 half-meter parallel, unidirectional (South to North) transects revealed the presence of significant belowground features.