Archaeo-Physics LLC

Interested in archaeological geophysics? Come visit us this Saturday September 28th at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Archaeology Day. We will be there from 10 am to 3 pm and will be happy to discuss recent results from the park, as well as archaeological prospection methods in general.

SPECIAL EVENT: Archaeology Day : Sep 28, 2024 | Event loading... 0) { %> 0) { %> 0) { %> This event is made possible by funds from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. opens in a new browser tab Location Date to Time to Directions Bing | Google If you need an accommodation, please call or email the event contact listed above by two weeks prior t...

A short video discussing Archaeo-Physics ongoing non-invasive archaeological investigation at the State Capitol grounds in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Geophysics of the Minnesota State Capitol Check out the first week of our work at the capitol and learn about the geophysics of the ground beneath our feet! Follow these links to learn more about the...

Some photos from a recently completed multi-method geophysical survey of a late 18th / early 19th century archaeological site in California. Multi-method surveys allow for a much more comprehensive understanding of the archaeological record when compared to a single method survey. Methods used include light detection and ranging (LiDAR), magnetic field gradient, electromagnetic induction (measuring both electrical conductivity and magnetic susceptibility to three different depths), and ground penetrating radar. Data quality and survey resolution was excellent, thanks to our hardworking team of experienced field technicians. Miigwech to our sponsor, the Diocese of Monterey, and to our new friends from the Salinan Nation for welcoming us to their beautiful homeland in the Santa Lucia mountains.

26 years after Archaeo-Physics conducted a geophysical search for mass burials in Tulsa we are pleased to see the first victim has been identified. Hopefully this will result in restitution for the descendants of this WWI veteran, who was murdered in the name of white supremacy.

Oklahoma identifies first victim in Tulsa race massacre mass grave War veteran CL Daniel was in his 20s when he was killed in 1921, in one of deadliest acts of racist violence in US history

Results from a recent magnetic field gradient survey reveal a 7000 year old Vinča culture settlement.

Archaeology team discovers a 7,000-year-old settlement in Serbia Together with cooperation partners from the Museum of Vojvodina in Novi Sad (Serbia), the National Museum Zrenjanin and the National Museum Pančevo, a team from the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence has discovered a previously unknown Late Neolithic settlement near the Tamiš River in Northeast Serbia.

For those who are interested in the subject matter but couldn't make it to the Society for American Archaeology conference in New Orleans last week, here is an online version of our talk. We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Drs. Rob Mann and Michael Nassaney for organizing this very interesting session, which was titled "RECENT COLONIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN THE AMERICAN MIDCONTINENT"

Gitchi Onigum - SAA 2024 New Orleans, Louisiana "WOMEN'S PORTAGES: COLONIAL ENCOUNTERS, GENDER, AND INDIGENOUS WORLDVIEW IN THE GREAT LAKES", by Sigrid Arnott and David Maki. Paper delivered on Friday Apr...

The 2024 field season has begun with the collection of 1,600,000 magnetic field gradient readings, a beautiful view of the loess hills of the Missouri River valley (the largest outside of China), and a visit to the Sergeant Floyd monument in Sioux City.

Another west coast mission successfully completed. Needless to say, the PNW has a new potato champion.

I am pleased to announce the release of a recent publication in the University Press of Florida cultural heritage series. The heavy lifting on this book chapter was done by my talented co-authors Sigrid Arnott and Franky Jackson. That said, I’d like to acknowledge that what contributions I did make were heavily influenced by many late-night conversations with a fellow infantry veteran, the late Matthew Northrup. Finally, I’d like to thank my Indigenous brothers from Golf Co. 2nd battalion, 7th Marines who taught me long ago that it is not possible to separate U.S. military history from Native-American history on Turtle Island. Note: this is a 10% version of the chapter due to copyright laws. The full version is available upon request.

(PDF) Intervisibility, Invisibility, and Identity Conflict in the Dakota–U.S. War of 1862: The Wood Lake BattlefieldThe Wood Lake Battlefield PDF | This study shows how Indigenous identities, particularly of Dakota and Métis people, affected strategic choices made on the Wood Lake battlefield,... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

LiDAR-based archaeological landscape surveys continue to radically change our understanding of ancient civilizations in the Americas.

Laser mapping reveals oldest Amazonian cities, built 2500 years ago Neighborhoods, farms, and roads are 1000 years older than previous discoveries

Paleo-magnetic intensity in the news.

Iron oxide baked into Mesopotamian bricks confirms ancient magnetic field anomaly About 3,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, brickmakers imprinted the names of their kings into clay bricks. Now, an analysis of the metal grains in those bricks has confirmed a mysterious anomaly in Earth's magnetic field.

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Dr. Martin Isenburg, whose brilliant work almost singlehandedly made LiDAR data processing accessible to those of us who lack access to a supercomputer. Martin frequently collaborated with Archaeo-Physics, and always generously supported our research with technical advice and free access to his software. May you rest in power.

Martin Isenburg, 1972–2021 Martin Isenburg was born July 6, 1972 in Weiskirchen, Germany and died in early September 2021 (between the 2nd and 10th) in Sámara, Costa Rica. His software and algorithms for Geographical Information Systems have been influential and very popular. He was also a charismatic and socially fearless f...

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our friend, colleague, fellow veteran and long-time Archaeo-Physics geophysical field technician Matthew Northrup. You were a one-of-a-kind, larger than life character Matthew. We're going to miss you. Minawaa giga-waabamin.

Matthew Northrup and Andrew Wise collecting earth resistance data using a Geoscan Research RM15 electrical resistance meter. The resistance survey team is standing near the center of the "artifact cloud" mapped using magnetic survey methods.
--photo by Mike Wise--

Our colleagues Jarrod Burks and Gordon Konieczek are featured in this excellent technology review by MIT. Jarrod uses the same MXPDA 5 sensor array magnetic gradiometer system that we at Archaeo-Physics use and sell. Gordon works for Sensys GmbH in Berlin, manufacturer of the instrument. You can meet Jarrod, Gordon and our own Geoff Jones next week at the National Park Service Archaeological Prospection workshop at the ancient city of Etzanoa. Participants can learn from both lectures and a hands on investigation of the site using the MXPDA magnetic gradiometer, as well other non-invasive methods such as electromagnetic induction (EMI), ground penetrating radar (GPR), earth resistance, downhole magnetic susceptibility and total magnetic field survey.

Finding forgotten Indigenous landscapes with electromagnetic technology Ohio's archaeological heritage can be traced by finding electromagnetic remnants in soil.

There is only one living artist, one Minnesota-based artist, and one woman artist in this major new show at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Full disclosure, she is my wife. The show opens on April 20th, 2023.

An exhibition about biblical heroine Judith stars iconic Caravaggio painting The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has made the most of a loan exchange with the Palazzo Barberini in Rome

Archaeo-Physics' is proud to be part of the upcoming one-week long "hands on" training in non-invasive archaeaological prospection methods. This will be the thirtieth NPS class - and Archaeo-Physics principals have been instructors during 25 of these years.

Current Archeological Prospection: Advances for Non-destructive Investigations Workshop 2023 (U.S. National Park Service) Archeology and Collections: Current Archeological Prospection: Advances for Non-destructive Investigations.

Congratulations to the Iowa OSA for receiving this National award recognizing Excellence in Public Archaeology Programming and Outreach!

Congratulations again to Elizabeth, Cherie, and all those who participate in education and outreach at the Office of the State Archaeologist for their national recognition upon receiving the Society for American Archaeology Excellence in Public Archaeology Programming Award! The Society's award ceremony took place at the annual meeting in Portland, Oregon, last week. Learn more about the award from this write-up by UI Office of the Vice President for Research: https://research.uiowa.edu/news/2023/04/office-state-archaeologist-earns-national-recognition-outreach

Pictured are Elizabeth Reetz and Cherie Haury-Artz holding a plaque that recognizes the award.

Yes, the archaeology is interesting, but this oil painting is simply stunning! More about this research project can be found in the link in the comments below.

We know annoyingly little about Stone Age clothing, most of the time only details like pendants made of animal teeth, ivory, mollusc shells and other durable materials remain. However, their position in a grave can give some ideas about the garments they once were attached to.

In any case, I’m quite sure that even Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic clothes could have been quite sophisticated, thinking about the multitude of sewing needles found, tens of thousands of years old.

The use of animal teeth as personal adornments is universal and has been part of the traditions of numerous cultures from the Palaeolithic into modernity.

This Mesolithic matriarch wears pendants made on bovid teeth and bear canines (based on actual finds but doesn't represent any particular burial).

Here are a few of the archaeological truths and myths that were discussed during Tuesday evening's event hosted by the Lower Phalen Creek Project.

Please enjoy some photos from last night’s lecture “Archeological Myths and Truths at Indian Mounds Park” by Sigrid Arnott, myself, and Franky Jackson. It was good to see some of the common misconceptions created by archaeologists about this ancestral Dakota cemetery put to rest. Pidamaya ye (Thank you) to Franky Jackson, Maggie Lorenz and Ben Gessner at Lower Phalen Creek Project for organizing and Lemoine Lapointe for facilitating discussion for the event- Reimagining Indian Mounds Park - and to the community members who participated in the lively and robust discussion that followed the lecture.

This year's (mis)adventures took us all the way from the Piedmont forests of the east coast to the oak savannas of the west coast, with stops between on the gulf coast of Louisana, southern Georgia, Iowa, the Black Hills of South Dakota and the upper Mississippi River and ricing lakes of northern Minnesota. We had lots of fun and obtained some amazing data. Thank you to all who joined us and Happy New Year everyone!

The Council for Minnesota Archaeology has formally published a statement on Working Conditions, Discrimination, and Retaliation on the website, which is reproduced here. This statement was created by the executive committee in response to a national news story regarding working conditions on a MnDOT project and alleged bias directed at a largely Indigenous archaeological crew working on a state managed burial recovery project near Duluth. However, the statement reflects the Council's commitment to fair and equitable working conditions in all situations.

Copied verbatim from a post by Anna Wise, wife of one of the burial recovery technicians on the Hwy 23 project.

"Please read and share! This news story is what happened to Andy and a team of mostly indigenous workers while working on a burial recovery project along highway 23 in Duluth. I remember crying daily, believing Andy's MS had started attacking his body in a really aggressive way, but it wasn't MS, it was that he was being poisoned daily at his job job site from MNDOT not properly ventilating for carbon monoxide.

It was an incredibly hard period of our lives. The amazing people who worked on this project truly deserve justice, sad to see the mostly indigenous crew of workers being so disrespected, and the people who stood up for the crew lost their jobs. The blatant retaliation makes me ill, and they should be held accountable.
Please help to hold them accountable!!

The Minnesota Workers Who Are Still Searching for Justice A crew of mostly Indigenous workers faced inhumane conditions at a burial recovery site in northern Minnesota. They refuse to give up fighting for justice.

The official end of the 2022 field season. One last 4 hour+ static GPS reading collected on a beautiful 14 degree (-10 C) day.