Mapping the archaeological relics of catacombs at Northeast Saqqara using GPR data, Egypt

Abstract

Ground Penetrating Radar "GPR" is a powerful geophysical technique capable to collect and record detailed information about the shallow earth's subsurface. Its application to map archaeological ruins is growing fast and getting more precise. GPR technique involves transmitting radar waves from a transmitting antenna, reflecting the waves off buried discontinuities and measuring the elapsed time before the reflections are received again at the surface by a receiving antenna. The area of interest is Saqqara. The data acquiring procedure and field notes could be considered as the start point to process and interpret collected data sets. They help also to bring the study's outcome in an easy form, either in 2D and/or 3D images, understandable by archaeologists. The generated images provide primary feedback that could be used to establish an excavation site or to identify significant areas containing cultural remains that would be better left untouched; therefore, the information can guide archaeologists to avoid destructing these locations. The present data set includes three grids (Grid 1, Grid 2, and Free-line Grid) in the sum of 81 measuring lines. The data were acquired using SIR4000 connected to a 200 MHz antenna applying time range of 200 ns with 1024 samples to fulfil adequate resolution in depth and 80 scans per length for appropriate resolution in scan direction. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) network is constructed to improve the GPS measurements over the entire site's location and elevation. The data were processed in a way to minimise the undesired signals and to emphasise the signals of use, and it was interpreted to reveal the existence of archaeological remains. The results uncover the finding of incredible varieties of archaeological objects such as tombs, sub-tunnels and catacombs, etc. It was also noticed that depth of interest ranges from 0.6 to 3 metres on the basis of wave velocity of 0.1 m/ns.

Saint Peter’s First Burial Site According to Maria Valtorta’s Mystical Writings, Checked against the Archeology of Rome in the I Century

“…Perhaps one day the first question may be answered, if more excavations and explorations of the second hypogeum, neglected since 1864, will be done, today favored by advanced non-invasive technology, such as the Ground Penetrating Radar [73,74], or other tools [75][76][77][78], which can help to discover unknown underground structures and cavities without excavating, especially if they are quite big, as is Titus and Marcellianus' crypt described by Maria Valtorta (see Appendix A). In fact, the access to this hypogeum is still preserved in Via dei Villini 32, the convent of nuns from which it is possible to access the Anonymous Hypogeum (ex-Nicomedes).…”

Geophysical Prospecting of the Coptic Monastery of Apa Moses Using GPR and Magnetic Techniques: A Case Study, Abydos, Sohag, Egypt

“…Several authors prospected archaeological features at various ancient locations for historical studies, using either magnetic or GPR methods or both. Land magnetic and GPR techniques in other sites in Abydos city were used to discover buried archaeological features [7,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Their results reveal eight distinct anomalies which may indicate the possibility of probable buried archaeological objects ranging from 2 to 4 m depth.…”

“…Their results reveal eight distinct anomalies which may indicate the possibility of probable buried archaeological objects ranging from 2 to 4 m depth. The magnetic method was applied in Abydos city near this site [7,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] and recognized high magnetic anomalies which may be interpreted as archaeological features of mud brick, ranging in size and depth from 3 m to 12 m and 1 to 5 m, respectively. These techniques were used by researchers in other countries to find the depths of buried archaeological targets.…”

“…These techniques were used by researchers in other countries to find the depths of buried archaeological targets. The combined findings of these techniques reveal that most of the potential buried archaeological targets were mapped in accordance with the depths [7,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Additionally, these techniques were utilized in conjunction with other techniques such as electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and MASW to detect the subsurface archaeological objects [20][21][22].…”