Jason Mann | Private Practice (original) (raw)
Papers by Jason Mann
NRCS-Whitepaper: Secondary testing of the LASER method has resulted in a 92% accuracy for locatin... more NRCS-Whitepaper: Secondary testing of the LASER method has resulted in a 92% accuracy for locating landforms which possess archaeological sites. The LASER method does not detect rock shelters, caves, sites smaller than 100sq feet, or sites destroyed prior to LiDAR flight scanning. The LASER method cannot differentiate between prehistoric, historic, or any kind of cultural association. The LASER method does show which landforms are highly likely to have some kind of archaeological site.
An unpublished David Chase manuscript describing the Hope Hull and Autauga Phases. Some pages are... more An unpublished David Chase manuscript describing the Hope Hull and Autauga Phases. Some pages are missing.
It is common archaeological practice to seriate ceramic samples by referencing frequency variatio... more It is common archaeological practice to seriate ceramic samples by referencing frequency variations in attributes of decoration and temper. Since the majority of Central Alabama's Late Woodland wares are undecorated and sand tempered they have resisted attempts to seriate them. As a consequence previously introduced developmental distinctions have been intuitively delineated making them difficult to replicate and quantify. By focusing upon frequency variations in the consequences of vessel body, mouth, rim, and lip construction we attempt to clarify and quantify the previously introduced developmental distinctions rendering them amenable to test by virtue of independently derived carbon 14 and thermoluminescent determinations.
Technical Report to the NRCS
Conference Presentations by Jason Mann
LASER Tornado mitigation in the Talladega National Forest, 2019
On March 19th 2018 a large F-3 tornado struck the Shoal Creek District of the Talla-dega National... more On March 19th 2018 a large F-3 tornado struck the Shoal Creek District of the Talla-dega National Forest. The tornado damaged or destroyed a one-mile wide swath approximately 22 miles long through the National Forest. The damage was so extensive that pedestrian traffic through the affected area was impossible. Furthermore, the large volume of downed timber would have to be removed, due to its potential for insect infestation and the awesome fuel load potential for catastrophic wildfires. Typically, the National Forest in Alabama has an area surveyed for cultural resources prior to any timber cutting activities and, certain portions of the tornado tract were surveyed for previous projects. However, the nature of the steep terrain combined with the amount of downed timber made a traditional cultural resource survey impossible. It would have been too dangerous, and too time consuming to conduct a traditional grid survey of the swath of destruction. The National Forest in Alabama after discussion with the Alabama State Archaeologist agreed that the LASER method was the best option for mitigating the tornado path area. It was decided that the affected area be LASER scanned and that the downed timber be removed prior to assessment. Then the archaeologist using the LASER method results would go into the cleared areas and assess damage to documented archaeological sites, and document and assess newly discovered sites. The LASER method was originally developed by Jason Mann and Xutong Niu as a process where LiDAR data is automatically searched for landforms that have a high probability of possessing some kind of cultural resource. The selection criteria for such landforms is any landform that deviates from the average surrounding landforms. Examples of such landforms are: a prehistoric earthwork, a dam, an elevated landform in a floodplain, a flat hilltop, a flat saddle between two hilltops, mechanically flattened terrain, and other places which are significantly different than the average terrain. The results of the original pilot studies showed that the LASER method is around 92 to 94 percent accurate at locating landforms which possess some kind of cultural resource. The LASER method does not discriminate between prehistoric or historic cultural resources, and the LASER method cannot detect bluff shelters or caves. A LASER scan of the affected area was performed. Previously documented sites were also plotted and cross-checked against the LASER results. Destroyed Timber was removed from the affected area. The archaeologist then surveyed the LASER indicated areas.
NRCS-Whitepaper: Secondary testing of the LASER method has resulted in a 92% accuracy for locatin... more NRCS-Whitepaper: Secondary testing of the LASER method has resulted in a 92% accuracy for locating landforms which possess archaeological sites. The LASER method does not detect rock shelters, caves, sites smaller than 100sq feet, or sites destroyed prior to LiDAR flight scanning. The LASER method cannot differentiate between prehistoric, historic, or any kind of cultural association. The LASER method does show which landforms are highly likely to have some kind of archaeological site.
An unpublished David Chase manuscript describing the Hope Hull and Autauga Phases. Some pages are... more An unpublished David Chase manuscript describing the Hope Hull and Autauga Phases. Some pages are missing.
It is common archaeological practice to seriate ceramic samples by referencing frequency variatio... more It is common archaeological practice to seriate ceramic samples by referencing frequency variations in attributes of decoration and temper. Since the majority of Central Alabama's Late Woodland wares are undecorated and sand tempered they have resisted attempts to seriate them. As a consequence previously introduced developmental distinctions have been intuitively delineated making them difficult to replicate and quantify. By focusing upon frequency variations in the consequences of vessel body, mouth, rim, and lip construction we attempt to clarify and quantify the previously introduced developmental distinctions rendering them amenable to test by virtue of independently derived carbon 14 and thermoluminescent determinations.
Technical Report to the NRCS
LASER Tornado mitigation in the Talladega National Forest, 2019
On March 19th 2018 a large F-3 tornado struck the Shoal Creek District of the Talla-dega National... more On March 19th 2018 a large F-3 tornado struck the Shoal Creek District of the Talla-dega National Forest. The tornado damaged or destroyed a one-mile wide swath approximately 22 miles long through the National Forest. The damage was so extensive that pedestrian traffic through the affected area was impossible. Furthermore, the large volume of downed timber would have to be removed, due to its potential for insect infestation and the awesome fuel load potential for catastrophic wildfires. Typically, the National Forest in Alabama has an area surveyed for cultural resources prior to any timber cutting activities and, certain portions of the tornado tract were surveyed for previous projects. However, the nature of the steep terrain combined with the amount of downed timber made a traditional cultural resource survey impossible. It would have been too dangerous, and too time consuming to conduct a traditional grid survey of the swath of destruction. The National Forest in Alabama after discussion with the Alabama State Archaeologist agreed that the LASER method was the best option for mitigating the tornado path area. It was decided that the affected area be LASER scanned and that the downed timber be removed prior to assessment. Then the archaeologist using the LASER method results would go into the cleared areas and assess damage to documented archaeological sites, and document and assess newly discovered sites. The LASER method was originally developed by Jason Mann and Xutong Niu as a process where LiDAR data is automatically searched for landforms that have a high probability of possessing some kind of cultural resource. The selection criteria for such landforms is any landform that deviates from the average surrounding landforms. Examples of such landforms are: a prehistoric earthwork, a dam, an elevated landform in a floodplain, a flat hilltop, a flat saddle between two hilltops, mechanically flattened terrain, and other places which are significantly different than the average terrain. The results of the original pilot studies showed that the LASER method is around 92 to 94 percent accurate at locating landforms which possess some kind of cultural resource. The LASER method does not discriminate between prehistoric or historic cultural resources, and the LASER method cannot detect bluff shelters or caves. A LASER scan of the affected area was performed. Previously documented sites were also plotted and cross-checked against the LASER results. Destroyed Timber was removed from the affected area. The archaeologist then surveyed the LASER indicated areas.