GIS is used to map known archaeological resources for cultural resource management purposes and can also be used to predict where unknown sites are located based on analysis of the existing geospatial characteristics of known sites.
Archaeology Predictive Model
Soil types, available natural resources (waterways), and landscape conditions (topography) were used to create the Predictive Model in 2004. Washington College Field School students survey a plowed field to test the Predictive Model over several years.
This data is currently being analyzed to determine a variety of information. The size and number of new archaeological sites as well the range of sites in relation to the Archaeological Predictive Model zones will provide supporting evidence for the Predictive Model study.