Geophysical assessment of Verteba Cave Eneolithic site, Ukraine

Abstract

The set of geophysical methods employed above ground and inside Verteba Cave Eneolithic Trypillian Culture Site (Ukraine) includes magnetic survey, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and ground‐penetrating radar (GPR). The above‐ground geophysical study was aimed at the recognition of lateral and vertical distribution of sulfate karst landforms and archaeological targets. In‐cave measurements were made to prospect archaeological remains in loose infill and unknown voids. The round and oval‐shaped magnetic anomalies with dimensions of 10–25 m and maximum intensity of 15–20 nT are caused by old refilled collapse dolines that were discovered over the cave. The magnetic survey proved the absence of Trypillian culture houses on the surface and the presence of buried archaeological objects in the cave. 2D ERT imaging revealed the vertical structure of karstic collapse dolines, the thickness of the sedimentary layer over gypsum, as well as loamy cave infill. ERT was capable of detecting the void in gypsum by resistivity enhancement up to several thousand ohm‐meters. The underground GPR survey of cave walls provided information about possible vertical air−gypsum and loam−gypsum interfaces within the gypsum layer. The prospective areas for future archaeological excavations and the possible location of undiscovered cavities were outlined on the basis of geophysical results.

The diversity of microbes and prediction of their functions in karst caves under the influence of human tourism activities—a case study of Zhijin Cave in Southwest China

“…Most caves on the earth are karst-landformed (Bartolomé et al 2021). Compared with other underground systems, karst caves, with many entrances to, are available for researchers to get in and conduct their studies, and thus, they are regarded as an important way to study microbial diversity of the underground biosphere (Bondar et al 2020). Those caves, though dark and oligotrophic with constant low temperature and high humidity, which are not conducive to the microbial existence, can still boast luxuriant microbial resources (Zhang et al 2017(Zhang et al , 2018.…”

The Becoming of a Prehistoric Landscape: Palaeolithic Occupations and Geomorphological Processes at Lojanik (Serbia)

“…Across the western flank of the Kremenjak Valley, laterally continuous, stratified sequence (Figure 4). From top to bottom, potential lithological unit exhibiting resistivity between 1.8 and 3 log10 Ωm body outcrops at the ground surface and reaches a maximum depth of 3 electrical properties [66,67] and location across the slope, ERT-A likely cor numerous opal rich peridotite rocks we observed during our geomorphol in the archaeological areas Lojanik 2 and 3. Our ERT data demonstrate t are not bedrock outcrops but rather loose boulders, which likely accum rockfalls.…”

Томографія Електричного Опору – Ефективний Геофізичний Метод Пошуків І Картування Печерних Споруд На Території Заповідника «софія Київська»

“…Першими систематичними та результативними археолого-геофізичними дослідженнями у Світі вважаються роботи Р. Аткінсона щодо вимірювання питомого електричного опору на археологічній пам'ятці у Дорчестері-на-Темзі. Використовуючи просту 4-електродну установку, він здійснив успішне знімання, в результаті якого були виявлені рови та ями за пониженими значеннями електричного опору зволоженого заповнення цих об'єктів, викопаних у кам'янистому ґрунті 3 .…”