Geophysical investigation for mapping the archaeological features at Qantir, Sharqyia, Egypt

Abstract

Two geophysical methods were used for mapping the archaeological features at Qantir village: magnetic and resistivity surveys. The magnetic survey was carried out before the resistivity survey in order to evaluate the distribution of hidden archaeological features and cultural relics. It was conducted over an area of 120 ð 100 m using a fluxgate gradiometer (Geoscan FM36) that measures the vertical gradient of the geomagnetic field. The readings were logged every 0.5 m along 20 m, zigzag traverses. The resultant data were processed and treated to produce a high-quality magnetic image. The final magnetogram and graphical interpretation plot show the distribution of high and low magnetic features that reflect the buried archaeological and nonarchaeological features. Subsequently, a resistivity survey was carried out over interesting areas identified from the initial results of the magnetogram. Four Wenner profiles were also measured, named P1W, P2W, P3W and P4W. The minimum electrode spacing used through all the profiles was 1 m and the maximum electrode spacing varied from one profile to another according to its length. These data were used to construct four apparent resistivity pseudosections. A comparison between the magnetic vertical gradient profile and resistivity inverse models was performed in order to check the value of using the Wenner configuration in parallel with the gradiometer survey. The geophysical investigation mapped some archaeological features with a high probability of indicating the presence of storage and burial chambers, bisecting walls, ditches and streets.

Life among the tides : recent archaeology on the Georgia Bight : proceedings of the Sixth Caldwell Conference, St. Catherines Island, Georgia, May 20-22, 2011.

“…Through minimally invasive subsampling of detected geophysical features, a solid archaeological interpretation can be elucidated and large, destructive investigations can be minimized (Kvamme, 2003a). This method of excavation and extrapolation has become a major influence in landscape archaeology because it can ensure that the maximum amount of information is gained from geophysical and archaeological investigations (Martin, Bruseth, and Huggins, 1991;Kvamme, 2003a;Abdallatif, Mousa, and Elbassiony, 2003;Conyers, 2010;Gaffney, 2008;Mušič et al, 2009;Powlesland, 2009;Leopold et al, 2010;Masini and Soldovieri, 2011;Walker, 2012).…”

Geoelectrical mapping and tomography for archaeological prospection at Al Ghouri mausoleum, Islamic Cairo, Egypt

“…The inversion program divides the subsurface into a number of small rectangular prisms, and attempts to determine the resistivity values of the prisms so as to minimize the difference between the calculated and observed apparent resistivity values. Resistivity methods are used to prospect the archaeological features of some small parts of the huge city of Piramesses (Abdallatif et al, 2003).…”

Investigation of Jabung Temple Subsurface at Probolinggo, Indonesia Using Resistivity and Geomagnetic Methods

“…The geophysical method is due its ability to determine the archaeological remains buried and provide information in the form of archaeological structure based on data in the form of resistivity, magnetic anomalies and other physical parameters [7]- [10]. Resistivity and magnetic methods have been developed gradually over the last 50 years to discover hidden objects and are now accepted as effective approaches to archaeological research [8] Some researchers have conducted research using magnetic, electromagnetic and resistivity methods to predict archaeological remains. The integration of several methods is used to show the location, depth and geometry of the buried archaeological remains [7]- [15].…”