July 2003 Auger Sample Work
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The site was established and three permanent datums were set in concrete near fence lines. About 95% of the topographic mapping was completed and a preliminary map produced. Topographic mapping covered an area of about 14.0 ha or 34.6 acres, which extends beyond the reported site area of about 30 acres to show natural and modern features including springs, buildings, fences, and roads.

      
Tractor mounted auguring, with loose soil collecting on rubber mat.
Bob McCullough scrapes off soil adhering to the auger.
Site owner Harold Martin was part of the research team and ran the tractor.

To identify the extent, types, and densities of Mississippian materials within a large multi-component site, initial auger sampling was carried out in 20- m intervals in north/south and east/west transects across the approximate center of the site. A tractor mounted 12-inch auger (30 cm diameter) was used to mechanically excavate soils at the selected locations The loosened soils were removed from the auger hole and the immediate area and collected by shovel and hand tools, and stockpiled or bucketed for screening through ¼-inch mesh.

Jocelyn Turner and Mike Strezewski tag buckets and
fill out record forms at one of the auger holes.

     
Cheryl Munson removes loose soil from the hole at N1000. Nearby, volunteer worker Justin Hazuga scoops out the soil from the base of augered hole N1000, E960.

After cleaning the sides of the auger hole, soil characteristics and stratigraphic relationships observed were documented and mapped on record forms; types and relative amounts of materials observed were noted. The depth of cultural materials and anthrosols was carefully checked. Screening took place over the auger locations, so the holes could be efficiently backfilled.

Clean auger hole at N980, E980, ready for soil description and mapping. Cultural soils are homogeneous from the base of plowzone (0.30 m bs) to 0.80 m bs, and the deposit is probably pit fill – perhaps a refuse-filled storage pit.

Bob McCullough recording soil profile of cleaned auger hole.

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