Research Article

A geophysical investigation of subsurface structures and Quaternary geology at San Marcos Pueblo, New Mexico

  1. Emily A. Hinz1,*,
  2. John F. Ferguson1,
  3. Louise Pellerin2,
  4. Ann F. Ramenofsky3

Article first published online: 28 NOV 2008

DOI: 10.1002/arp.337

Issue

Archaeological Prospection

Archaeological Prospection

Volume 15, Issue 4, pages 247–265, October/December 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hinz, E. A., Ferguson, J. F., Pellerin, L. and Ramenofsky, A. F. (2008), A geophysical investigation of subsurface structures and Quaternary geology at San Marcos Pueblo, New Mexico. Archaeol. Prospect., 15: 247–265. doi: 10.1002/arp.337

Author Information

  1. 1

    The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA

  2. 2

    Green Engineering Inc., Anchorage, AK, USA

  3. 3

    The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

*Boise State University, Department of Geosciences, 1910 University Drive, MS 1536 Boise, ID 83725, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 28 NOV 2008
  2. Article first published online: 28 NOV 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 12 AUG 2008
  4. Manuscript Received: 22 FEB 2008

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Keywords:

  • San Marcos;
  • SAGE;
  • seismic refraction;
  • geophysical prospecting;
  • Galisteo Basin

Abstract

San Marcos Pueblo site (LA 98), located in the Galisteo Basin south of Santa Fe, New Mexico, encompasses the remains of 43 identified room blocks, a Spanish mission and 20 middens. As part of ongoing field investigations at San Marcos, students and faculty from the Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience (SAGE) field programme are using multiple geophysical techniques to non-invasively investigate the site. Modelling of the underlying Quaternary stream terrace geology and the detection of subsurface Pueblo-era features were accomplished through the integrated interpretation of data from seismic refraction and reflection, electromagnetic, magnetic and ground-penetrating radar methods. Although to date only a targeted spatially small extent of the site has been explored using these methods, the SAGE field programme has been able detect a variety of anthropogenic structures and debris. The SAGE field programme validated the presence of excavations in the natural stream terrace sequence over areas believed to contain kivas, mapped the geometry of walls over a closed room block, and detected an area of magnetized debris associated with smelting operations. Collectively, the data from the SAGE field programme demonstrate the value of using multiple, complementary, geophysical methods for archaeological prospection. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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