Controlled Archaeological Test Site (CATS)

CATS facility is at the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), Champaign, IL. This 1-acre test site includes a variety of subsurface features carefully designed to simulate phenomena and materials commonly encountered at prehistoric and historic archaeological sites. Test features simulate postholes, pits, hearths, house floors, burials, earthen embankments, etc. Other targets include bricks, concrete blocks, and (in a restricted area) metal objects. The precise location, depth, dimensions, and position of each object and feature have been recorded, mapped, and photographed. A geophysical survey was conducted before test site construction to ensure that no unknown features were present.