Archaeology Lab



Archaeology Lab

ANTL 207

Exercise 8 – Reading and Interpreting Topographic Maps

29 October 2012

Choose a partner for this exercise – a person you haven’t worked with before. You are to type up and submit 1 (one) exercise for you and your partner, making sure that both of your names are on the exercise. Also, be sure to include the exercise number and date, of course.

After learning a bit about topographic maps from Dr. Simmons log on to our class web page and click on Student Resources. Scroll down to Mapping and go ahead and read “How to Read a Topographic Map”. This and the discussion by Dr. Simmons will give you the general information on topographic maps you’ll need to complete this exercise.

Next, log on to: . Type in “West Raleigh” in the search bar in the upper left. In the upper right you’ll see a bar that has map/topo/hybrid. Click on Topo and the proceed with the exercise.

Use the up and down arrows and the + and – in the upper left corner of the map itself to zoom into downtown Raleigh. Before you zoom each time try to keep the word Raleigh in the approximate center of the frame. You’re zooming into the Raleigh West USGS Quadrangle. Next, answer the following questions:

1). Name 5 different kinds of information that are depicted on USGS Quadrangle maps (place names, features, etc). Be sure to use the direction arrows or click and drag the hand to move around and see different features.

2). Below the bottom left corner of the map you’ll see (under “Powered by Google” some numbers to the right of the word “Location”. These are UTMs (Universal Transverse Mercators) so click on Change Format so that you see N and W next to the Latitude/Longitude numbers. Now all of your locations will be in Lat/Long (once you move the cursor back over the map). Now, find the State Capitol building. Plot the Latitude and Longitude of the Governor’s Mansion and the Lat/Long of the Governor’s Mansion. Why are the Lat/Long numbers different?

3). Move a little east of downtown and find Wake Memorial Hospital. Look closely at the contour lines in the area of the hospital. Name the highest and lowest elevations you can see in this area of the quad map. What’s the approximate difference from lowest to highest elevation (in number of feet)?

4). Now move a little south and just slightly east of the hospital and take a look at the Walnut Creek Park and amphitheater area (on both sides of I-440). Name at least five natural features and five man-made features in this particular portion of the quad map. You might want to look at the “Topographical Map Basics - US Search and Rescue Task Force” web site under “Student Resources” on our ANTL 207 web page to help you identify certain types of features.

Now move away from the computers and go into the main part of the Archaeology Lab. Take a look at the paper USGS quadrangle maps on the table to answer these last few questions.

6). What do you notice about archaeological site locations (plotted in red)? Hint – think in terms of their physiographic settings.

7). Locate a BM (benchmark) on one of these paper quads. What’s the elevation of the benchmark? Which quad map are you examining? Why do you think benchmarks are important?

8). If you were a Native American or later settler arriving in eastern North Carolina and could pick certain places on which to build your residence which places would you choose? Again, look at the quad maps on the black tables in the Archaeology Lab for ideas on settlement. Provide reasons for your choices.

This exercise is due no later than the end of class on Wednesday October 31, 2012.

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