An Archaeological Overview and Assessment of the Main Unit Petersburg National Battlefield, Virginia

The survey methodology employed by MAAR at Fort Lee emphasized surface examination when possible and subsurface excavation of shovel test pits 1 foot square, generally to a depth of 1 foot. The interval between, shovel tests was 100 feet, which was reduced to 50 feet upon discovery of prehistoric or historic artifacts in a given shovel test. The base was subdivided into survey units, each measuring 500 feet square or 5.74 acres. Units comprising a total of 3609 acres were examined, which constituted a 66.7 % sample of the base (Opperman and Hanson 1985:5-2, 5-3).