Geophysics in Archeology

Specific Foundation / Core

After the successful completion the students should 1) Know how to "read" maps showing the distribution of geophysical quantities in archaeological sites. 2) Conduct resistance and magnetic surveys 3) Construct maps the distribution of geophysical quantities in archaeological sites. 4) Be capable to perform processing on resistance and magnetic mapping data. 5) Interpret resistance and magnetic mapping data. 6) Be capable of following a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electrical Tomography (ERT) survey.

Brief historical details of the discipline, suitability of each method regarding the particular problem, acceptable visualization methods, classical methods of processing and presentation of data, introduction to magnetic prospecting, magnetic susceptibility and magnetization of materials, conversion of magnetic oxides in soils, mmeasuring instruments, total field and gradiometer measurements, magnetic mapping surveying, magnetic data processing and visualization, introduction to resistivity surveying, electrode arrays employed in archaeological investigations, comparison of arrays, resistance mapping and electrical resistivity tomography, resistance surveying techniques, resistance data processing, principles of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method, electrical properties of materials controlling travelling of electromagnetic (EM) waves, refraction, reflection and diffraction of EM waves, penetration depth and resolution, instrumentation and modes of surveying, design of a GPR survey and selection of parameters, GPR dat processing and presentation of results - interpretation, principles of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), data collection and multiplexing, elements of inversion theory, use of ERT in solving specific archaeological problems, Non conventional use of geophysical prospecting in solving specific archaeological problems (e.g. locating tombs under tumuli embankments, assessing the moisture content in walls, depth of fractures in sculptures, etc.). Introduction to archaeomagnetic method and to magnetic properties of archaeological materials. Brief description of geomagnetic field components and its main properties. Examples of application of the method related to the variation of geomagnetic field during historical times, dating of archaeological structures, and discrimination of destructive layers and site formation in archaeological settlements. Description of laboratory measurements of the magnetic parameters and training of students in the Palaeomagnetic lab. Different Ways for presenting the results and examples mainly from Greece and broader European area.

Archaeological Prospection

17-06-2015