Ground penetrating radar is one of a few non-destructive tools used by archaeologists to look for buried features.
The radar sends electromagnetic pulses through the ground.  These pulses pick up various echoes from the ground.
These echoes represent the various layers of sediment that have accumulated.  Different layers of sediment send
back different types of echoes.  These pulses also pick up any variations in these echoes.   These variations can
represent buried foundations, wells, burials, and other man made or naturally occurring features.

The radar unit is mounted on a sled and is pulled over the site in a series of passes.  The radar echoes are then
transferred to paper, and provides a reading of the ground covered by the radar.  Technicians trained in ground
penetrating radar are able to interpret the readings and help the archaeologists in planning their excavations.  By
using ground penetrating radar archaeologist are able to take a non-destructive approach to locate sites.

Using ground penetrating radar at the Taylor house site helped archaeologists find the original house foundation
and other features.  Ground penetrating radar was also used around Appomattox Manor at the City Point Unit.
The radar there was able to locate wells, other building foundations and cellars.

Using ground penetrating radar, the National Park Service, in cooperation with Dr. Bevan, located and mapped
Union Fort Morton on the Taylor farm.  Dr. Bevan's extensive remote-sensing surveys have provided detailed
images of the buried trenches and bomb-proofs that indicate the site of Fort Morton.  Dr. David Orr and his staff
have excavated a portion of these buried trenches in 1998; they were assisted by students from the Virginia
Military Institute.