A PRELIMINARY GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE GERRIT SMITH ESTATE, PETERBORO, NY

This poster summarizes the results of geophysical, historical and archaeological research conducted to identify the location and function of subsurface features at the nineteenth-century Gerrit Smith estate, a National Historic Landmark located in the rural village of Peterboro, New York. Though only four structures remain standing, written records have revealed that up to thirty structures once stood on the property, which was home to noted social reformer Gerrit Smith (1797 – 1874) and a handful of his neighbors. While subsurface testing conducted by archaeologists identified three building foundations and the associated deposits of two additional structures, the identification of other features has been impeded by the inaccuracies of historic maps, which did not include depictions of smaller outbuildings and often misrepresented the positions of domestic structures and the shapes of building lots. Geophysical testing was initiated to compensate for the limitations of these sources.

This poster presents the results of a preliminary geophysical investigation of this National Historic Landmark. During the summer of 2006 electrical resistivity, magnetic, seismic refraction and ground penetrating radar surveys were conducted at the site. The seismic refraction survey provided a broad general picture of the number of layers, their thicknesses and velocity. The magnetic survey revealed magnetic anomalies possibly associated with the Smith Family and neighbors. Electrical resistivity measurements made at one meter intervals to a depth of four meters were used to compile a resistivity map of the site. The ground penetrating radar survey indicated a rectangular buried structure that is about 13m x 20m. More geophysical work is needed to fully image the underground structure.