A DETAILED MAGNETIC SURVEY OF THE TIMBUCTO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AT LAKE PLACID, NY

Timbucto is a 19^th century settlement of African American farmers at Lake Placid, N.Y. Gerret Smith, a wealthy abolitionist provided land to free African American New Yorkers to get them out of the city by settling on land in the area. The purpose of this investigation at a new site was to conduct a detailed magnetic and electrical resistivity survey in an area to locate any artifacts, building foundations, or dumping areas in the settlement site.

Measurements of the total intensity of the earth’s magnetic field were taken at one-meter intervals. The magnetic measurements were computer contoured to create a magnetic map of the area. The magnetic map shows several interesting anomalies possibly related to artifacts of the early settlers. A circular shaped magnetic high of over 100 nanotesla is present in the survey area. This anomaly is of shallow origin as indicated by its steep gradient. A series of magnetic highs extend across the central part of the map. These highs form a trend that makes a right angle across the area. The trend of the anomalies and their intersection at right angles suggests a possible origin due to early settlers. The problem, however, is that magnetic anomalies can also be attributed to magnetic basement rocks so one must separate anomalies due to geology from those due to archaeology. Detailed resistivity measurements are presently in progress to aid in the location of artifacts.