A CLEARER VISION OF THE NEAR-SURFACE COASTAL PLAIN THROUGH THE EYES OF NEXT-GENERATION, RAPID-ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING GPR

Coastal Plain physiography, near-surface stratigraphy, and interpreting Coastal Plain evolution requires detailed imaging and interpretation of the near-surface geologic framework, in particular where geomorphic, archaeological, and historical landscapes intersect. Next-generation ground penetrating radar (GPR) provides unprecedented imaging of modern and emergent barrier island stratigraphy, uncovering paleolandscapes, and pinpointing archaeological features through rapid-acquisition, high signal-to-noise data, and advanced 2D/3D processing capabilities. This presentation provides insight from these innovations on the stratigraphic evolution of central South Carolina’s coastal systems, focusing on modern coastal settings, focusing on Charleston, South Carolina, from Pleistocene and Holocene paralic systems to historical archaeological sites.

Three-dimensional GPR surveys conducted at sites like Stono Preserve (former Dixie Plantation) reveal a wealth of previously unidentified cultural features. Beneath the Coastal Plain, reflector geometries delineate sediment infill, buried structures, and anthropogenic modifications tied to the region’s colonial and prehistoric occupation superposed on a complex geological framework. Inland Pleistocene ridge complexes cover complex paleochannel systems, while Holocene shoreface and back-barrier systems reveal stratigraphic records of sediment dynamics and cut-and-fill.

Combining the GPR data with geomorphic, archaeological analyses, and GIS, this study offers a refined vision of portions of South Carolina’s Coastal Plain, spanning from Quaternary paleolandscapes to modern cultural heritage. This next evolution of advanced GPR in mapping buried features, reconstructing past environments, and informing sustainable resource management is accelerating our abilities to understand a region shaped by both natural forces and human history.