Land Streamer Aided Geophysical Studies at Saqqara, Egypt

Abstract

During December 2002 and January 2003, Montana Tech in collaboration with Ain Shams University, Cairo, collected Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and seismic data at Saqqara, Egypt. The purpose of this study was to see if GPR and seismic methods could detect manmade structures in the subsurface at Saqqara. In particular, land streamer aided, seismic diving-wave tomography was tested as a method to detect archaeological features. Saqqara was one of the principal necropolises of Memphis, an ancient capital of Egypt. The research site was near the 3rd Dynasty pharaoh Djoser’s Step Pyramid—the first monumental structure built entirely of stone. A preliminary GPR study of our site yielded numerous, possibly manmade features in the subsurface with a [Formula: see text] depth of penetration using [Formula: see text] antennas. A follow-up three-dimensional (3-D) GPR survey over one of the more interesting features showed a broad trench underneath the flat-lying sand that is seen at the surface. This feature is most likely manmade because the horizontally layered limestone rocks of Saqqara are inconsistent with the shape of this feature. Seismic diving-wave tomograms show that this probable manmade feature extends to a depth of [Formula: see text] into the subsurface. Moreover, we were able to complete the seismic survey faster using a land streamer consisting of gimbaled geophones than could be done using conventional planted geophones. This site has potential for further investigation and possible excavation.

Hydrogeological prospecting using P‐ and S‐wave landstreamer seismic reflection methods

“…, , ) and have gained some popularity as a means of efficiently conducting refraction or multichannel analysis of surface‐wave (MASW) surveys (e.g., Miller et al . ; Carnevale and Hagar ; Hayashi and Inazaki ; Svensson ).…”

Reconstruction of discrete resistivity targets using coupled artificial neural networks and watershed algorithms

“…; Miller et al . ). The input of the ANN consists of five model parameters (one model parameter for the host medium and four model parameters for each resistive target within the model space (depth, width, length and resistivity value)), whereas the output consists of four parameters (depth, width, length and resistivity value for each resistive target).…”

“…(1) Re-inverting data sets using the ANN The ANN model was trained using 251 known synthetic cavity models, for single and multiple closely and widely spaced cavity targets having resistivity and geometry values covering the likely range of targets typically found at archaeological sites in Egypt. (e.g., El-Qady et al 2005;Miller et al 2005). The input of the ANN consists of five model parameters (one model parameter for the host medium and four model parameters for each resistive target within the model space (depth, width, length and resistivity value)), whereas the output consists of four parameters (depth, width, length and resistivity value for each resistive target).…”

Western Section of the ‘Dry Moat’ Channel Surrounding Step Pyramid Complex in Saqqara in the Light of Ground‐penetrating Radar Prospection

“…Several years ago, GPR was applied for the first time in geophysical prospecting of the Saqqara necropolis, which enabled Miller et al . () to study an area located directly to the north of the Ptahotep tomb. The method was in a small range also used during one of the last field seasons of the Saqqara Geophysical Survey Project (SGSP), but the full effect of this research has not yet been published (Price, ).…”