Using both modern and historic aerial photos has enabled us to assess patterns of land use and land use change
over the years. In particular, comparison of areas, cleared in the 1920's and overgrown in the 1980's, allows us some
insight into when areas may have fallen into disuse and the relative ages of landuse patterns. The areas of the two
rock mound complexes are, today, over grown. However, in 1927, the areas were clear of overstory,
AkDi-31 moreso than AkDi-21. Also, the integration of aerial photos with the archaeological site location data (in the GIS)allows us
a synoptic view of how the sites may fit into the overall pattern of the historic community, as well as the pattern of vegetation across the landscape.
This provides us with valuable contextual information which is used in trying to come to an understanding of the community pattern and the potential
for further archaeological resources in Birchtown.
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