Introduction to this special section: Geophysical methods in archaeology

Abstract

Archaeogeophysics, i.e., the application and integration of geophysics into archaeological investigations, is an exciting and growing field of study and an international collaboration at the intersection of the physical and social sciences. Through the incorporation of ground- and drone-based geophysical and remote sensing tools, these collaborative teams continue to advance the field of archaeology by rapidly and accurately revealing hidden features of the past and helping to focus active archaeological digs. Equally relevant, yet often unnoticed, the inclusion of noninvasive geophysical tools likewise provides a means to understand and preserve historically and culturally sensitive sites without the need for extensive and potentially destructive excavations.