Geophysical Investigations of the Three Areas within the Boundaries of Booker T. Washington National Monument, Franklin County, Virginia

The geophysical investigations were conducted at the request of Allen Cooper, archeologist with the Philadelphia Support Office. These investigations were to provide information on three separate areas within the boundaries of the Booker T. Washington National Monument: the Burroughs cemetery area, the Sparks cemetery, and the historic slave quarters core area. The methodology for the magnetic and resistance surveys is similar to that utilized at Fort Laramie. The present investigations addressed several park issues including the location of the Burroughs' main (plantation) house, identifying graves in the Burroughs and Sparks cemeteries, and historic features and twentieth century disturbances within the historic slave quarters core area. The geophysical survey was also designed to supplement the previous resistivity survey in the historic slave quarters area. Instruction in geophysical techniques was also presented to archeological field school students from Sweet Briar College.