The Glenn Black Laboratory is equipped and staffed to undertake most
geoarchaeological and geophysical field and laboratory investigations. The GBL
maintains several different types of magnetometers, electrical conductivity and
resistivity instruments as well as other state-of-the-art surveying, mapping and
geodetic location instruments. In addition to hand tools like bucket augurs and
soil probes used for geoarchaeological fieldwork, the GBL also owns a GeoProbe
direct push hydraulic drilling rig capable of deriving continuous, solid-earth
cores to analyze and explore for buried archaeological sites or provide
low-impact on-site subsurface investigations. The GBL also maintains an
extensive array of analytical equipment to undertake detailed analyses of
archaeological deposits and artifacts, including a Floe-Tech floatation machine
for obtaining paleobotanical and microartifactual data and a Hund Wetzlar
metallurgical microscope (50X-1000X) for lithic, ceramic and microwear
analyses. Because it is a part of the Indiana University research community,
the GBL can call on the analytical resources of other departments and units on
campus. These range from X-Ray diffraction and florescence equipment and
petrographic microscopes for lithic and ceramic analysis from the Department of
Geology to Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and soil and sediment analysis from
the Indiana Geological Survey.
|
Geoarchaeological and Geophysical Equipment at the Glenn
Black Laboratory |
|
Drilling and Coring Equipment |
Geoprobe 54TR |
Thumbnail picture |
Tractor-mounted hydraulic drilling rig capable of
taking up to 20 m long, continuous, solid earth cores. We have
duel-tube sampling capabilities so cores can be reliably taken below
water table as well as macro-tube samples where higher volume samples
are required. The tractor mounting means that coring can be performed
in many places where other truck or trailer mounted rigs would not dare
go. |
|
Geoprobe Direct Image Electrical
Conductivity (EC) system. |
Thumbnail picture |
Down-hole, electrical conductivity device designed
to directly measure vertical changes of EC properties of sediment.
Capable measuring differences at 2mm intervals, it can be directly
pushed into sediment without removing any cores and leaves a <3cm
diameter hole. Its very low impact makes it an ideal tool for
subsurface exploration within archaeological sites, particularly where
human remains are suspect. |
|
Geophysical Equipment and Survey
Instruments
|
Bartington Grad 601-2 Magnetic
Gradiometer |
Thumbnail picture |
The Grad 601-2 is a two-sensor magnetometer
designed for archaeological prospection. Its duel sensor configuration
allow for rapid and accurate survey of site areas. |
|
Geoscan FM36 Magnetic Gradiometer |
Thumbnail picture |
The FM36 is a highly accurate magnetometer and has
been the work horse instrument for the GBL geophysics program. While
still an excellent and reliable device, it has become backup for the
Bartington. |
|
Syscal Pro Electrical Resistivity
Imaging System |
Thumbnail picture |
The Syscal Pro Imaging System supports up to 72
electrodes at spacings of up to 5m apart. The system is capable of
sensing up to 100 m depths, but can also be configured for very detailed
displays of shallow depths more typical of archaeological contexts. The
system can be configured for either 2D (i.e., profile) or 3D acquisition
and state of the art software allows tje display and processing of these
data in easy to grasp diagrams. |
|
Geoscan RM15/MPX15 Electrical
Resistivity Instrument |
Thumbnail picture |
The Geoscan RM15/MPX15 is a flexible resistivity
instrument designed for reliable survey of site areas at shallow
depths. Our version is multiplexed to allow for rapid and detailed
3-dimensional mapping of subsurface features and has been a very useful
tool in mapping historic cemeteries. |
|
Geonics EM36 Electrical Conductivity
Instrument. |
Thumbnail picture |
The Geonics EM36 conductivity instrument allows
rapid reconnaissance survey to detect a variety of cultural and natural
soil anomalies and is commonly used to map the limits and extent of
earthworks and other large-scale cultural features. |
