Archaeological Investigation: Searsport, Maine

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: New England District

Using marine geophysical techniques, Ocean Surveys conducted an archaeological investigation in Searsport Harbor, Maine. It was completed in support of a channel deepening project performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (New England District). The investigation was designed to provide information for the marine archaeological assessment of the harbor as well as an evaluation of geological conditions within the project’s depth of interest. The study was performed under contract to The Public Archaeology Laboratory, Inc. The laboratory was responsible for the marine archaeology aspect of the project.

The primary objectives of the marine geophysical investigation included the identification of natural and man-made objects on and below the seafloor, high-resolution seismic data acquisition, and an overall assessment of subsurface conditions. The investigations performed by Ocean Surveys identified features within the depth of interest that might have adversely affect dredging operations such as coarse glacial till (cobbles, boulders) and bedrock.  Subbottom data also provided information on any seismic facies suggestive of paleo-environments, such as buried channels and shorelines, which might represent potential pre-historic cultural sites.

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