GPS Site Data and Evaluations of 23 National Register Eligible Sites at Fort Lee, Prince George County, Virginia

Between January II and February 5, 1999, Gray and Pape, Inc. conducted collection of GPS site data for 23 National Register eligible archaeological sites at Fort Lee. Prince George County, Virginia. This work was performed for ERC, Inc. following a Scope of Work designed by the Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk. District (Contract No. DACA65-95-D-O116). The goal of the project was to provide Global Positioning Systems data for 23 archaeological sites that have been recommended as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
This process involved the collection of Global Positioning Systems data as well as establishing permanent datums at each site. Additionally, one site previously considered not eligible for nomination to the NRRP was evaluated for its potential to contribute archaeological materials that could be displayed at the Fort Lee Quartermaster Museum. This work was designed to comply with the requirements of Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the management of archaeological sites on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
The project included a literature and background review relating to the 23 sites that were included in the project, archaeological and GPS field work, preparation of Integrated Preservation Software site forms, and the preparation of this report. The field work involved the placement of one permanent datum at or near the center of each site, the recordation of the site name and GPS location on the datum, and the collection of point and polygon GPS data corresponding to the datum and boundaries respectively of the sites. Site datums were constructed with PVC pipe, concrete, and brass bench markers. A O.6-meter (2-foot) section of 4-centimeter-(I o-inch) diameter PVC pipe was filled with concrete, and a brass bench marker was fitted on one end of the PVC.
During the initial stages of the fieldwork, the site datums were placed in the ground with the bench marker end up and approximately 15 centimeters (6 inches) of pipe above ground. Site boundaries were marked using site maps drawn by Gray & Pape during previous investigations. Gray & Pape, Inc. retained PGL Inc. (PGI) to collect and process Global Positioning Systems data at the archaeological sites. PGI technicians recorded the location of the site datums as point features and the site boundaries as polygon features. Following the processing of the data, Gray and Pape, Inc. archaeologists stamped the corrected Global Positioning Systems locations of site datums on the brass bench markers. Gray and Pape, Inc. provided electronic files to POI to be used as data layers for the construction of the Graphic Information Systems environmental resources database for Fort Lee. Finally, previously created site maps were redrawn to show the locations of the permanent datums.