An application of the self-potential (SP) method in archaeogeophysical prospection

Abstract

Usage of the self‐potential (SP) method on archaeological sites has been very limited and the phenomena that form the SP anomalies are not very well known. We believe that the vertical capillary water flows around stone walls that can be encountered frequently in archaeological sites, the porosity of the soil surrounding the archaeological structures, the moisture and clay ratio of the soil, and the changes in pH value of the soil, may form the SP anomalies. Moreover, an SP anomaly also may be formed if there is a moisture condition cutting the sulphuric and oxidized deposits under the earth. We determined, by our research, that the SP method can be very important, especially for determining the soil distribution and for archaeological research. The study was carried out on an Assyrian Tread Colony Period artificial hill in Acemhöyük, the chemical and physical structure of which was changed significantly after a large fire in approximately 1789±50 bc. The structure boundaries were found by interpreting the anomalies obtained from analytical modelling techniques, and an analysis of the SP mechanism of the area was attempted. In addition, the noise on the anomalies was eliminated by signal analysis techniques, thus enabling us to interpret the results more precisely. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Geophysical investigations of the Seferihisar geothermal area, Western Anatolia, Turkey

“…Self-potential anomalies are caused by differences in temperature, electrical resistivity or moisture content, as well as fluid flow in response to pressure gradients. Variations in physical properties are the main causes of ion accumulations along geologic and domain discontinuities (Schiavone and Quarto, 1984;Ercan et al, 1986;Corwin, 1990;Drahor et al, 1996;Drahor, 2004). In many cases the SP data have been interpreted qualitatively, i.e.…”

Quantitative analysis of self-potential anomalies: Review of case studies from various SP applications

“…SP measurements are not frequently applied for searching and localization of archaeological targets (e.g., Wynn and Sherwood, 1984;Mauriello et al, 1998;Eppelbaum et al, 2003a, b;Drahor, 2004;Drahor et al, 2006;Di Maio et al, 2010;Shevnin et al, 2014;Tsokas et al, 2014;Leucci, 2017, 2019).…”

The contribution of geophysics in the location of prehistoric settlements in Greece

“…Drahor (Drahor et al, 1996) have observed that SP anomalies are produced by burnt pits, well and walls, kilns and in areas where chemical changes are high. Therefore it can be concluded that the SP method can especially be useful in prehistoric sites.…”