This project will demonstrate the use of portable magnetic susceptibility (MS) to streamline determination of eligibility (DOE) surveys at buried archaeological sites on Army-managed lands. Current DOE surveys are time and labor intensive, limiting installation access to training lands, particularly in Alaska where field seasons are constrained to 3-4 months. By rapidly identifying archaeological features like hearths through magnetic anomaly detection, MS can guide targeted testing and reduce the overall time needed to assess site significance and boundaries. Testing at lands managed by U.S. Army Garrison Alaska will establish best practices for applying this proven but underutilized technology and compare survey timelines with and without MS assistance.

Magnetic susceptibility measures the degree to which materials can be magnetized, detecting magnetic anomalies created by archaeological features like hearths. The project will equip Fort Wainwright's cultural resource program with two Terraplus KT-20 magnetic susceptibility devices equipped with 3F-32 diameter sensors. Surveys will be conducted in search mode using live readings to detect anomalies across archaeological sites, with detected anomalies marked and mapped using a global positioning system to show their spatial distribution. This non-invasive approach maintains site integrity while allowing anomalies to be investigated immediately or revisited later. The method is particularly effective in open ground environments and areas with recent fire activity, where magnetic signatures from cultural features are readily distinguishable from background noise.

This research supports Army cultural resource management by reducing the time and cost needed to conduct DOE surveys while maintaining training land access. Current survey methods require extensive field time and personnel resources, creating operational constraints that are especially acute in Alaska and other installations with limited field seasons or reduced training calendars. By demonstrating rapid feature identification through MS, this capability will accelerate DOE timelines, reduce field crew size and associated costs, and enable faster opening of training lands. The non-invasive approach also avoids inadvertent discoveries that trigger costly mitigation efforts. Results will be transferable to other installations with open ground coverage or recent fire activity, including Fort Carson, Dugway Proving Ground, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord/Yakima Training Center. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2026)