Germanna staff archaeologist Dr. Eric Larsen began a new site topographic mapping survey project at Fort Germanna in October. The original site grid was established some 30 years ago and focused on the architectural footprint of Alexander Spotswood’s Enchanted Castle. Today, thanks to the generosity of Dr. Michael D. Frost and his wife Ginger, who have provided funding for the Foundation’s archaeologist position through the end of 2016, we are expanding archaeological testing beyond this footprint.
The goals of this mapping and theodolite survey effort are to identify and locate above-ground resources within the open area surrounding the Enchanted Castle/Fort Germanna site and to generate a “Current Conditions” or baseline map that can be digitized (using AutoCAD). The digitized map can be used as an overlay to complement satellite imagery, aerial photos, and existing topographic maps. Similarly, maps from the Civil War-era and perhaps earlier could be digitized and readily compared with the current conditions.
The mapping work will mark the extents of previous excavations, and any visible surface features (e.g., the Spotswood family terraces, the Gordon family well, the Colonial Dames marker, and current roadways). In addition, the survey will be conducted with sufficient detail to mark changes in landform and elevations within the site.
Want to join our team of explorers? Archaeology is not a go-it-alone effort. Make a donation to the Germanna Foundation today to help deepen our archaeology research program and to support our focused drive to have Germanna recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
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