Shallow geophysical investigations at the Akhmim archaeological site, Suhag, Egypt

Abstract

Ground penetrating radar, electromagnetic terrain conductivity, and electric tomography have proven to be effective tools if they are combined together to investigate archeological sites. We have conducted a geophysical survey at the Akhmim archaeological site, the main objective of our survey is to locate additional buried structures for further excavation. Geophysical data were acquired in the area using the GEM-300 multi-frequency terrain conductivity profiler, the SIR 2000 ground penetrating radar, and the Syscal R2 resistivity meter systems. The results of the integrated interpretation show a number of buried features and a strong linear zone about 1 m wide that coincides with the suspected trend of a buried wall. There appears to be two parallel ridges of strong refl ections on either side, indicating two parallel walls extended East-West and a room is identifi ed at the bottom left corner of the site. Moreover, the interpretation results of some selected GPR and dipoledipole resistivity profi les adjacent to the open-air museum suggest the existence of a second statue of Ramses II to the right of the previously discovered statue which could still be buried in the sand.

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

“…The development of the amplitude slice maps and computer programs made GPR technology more understandable to the archaeological community and able to produce synthetic computer models of buried archaeological features and associated stratigraphy. In Egypt, GPR is successfully used in imaging the subsurface at several archaeological sites (Khozym 2003(Khozym , 2007Hafez et al 2008;Sayed 2012;Atya et al 2012). In this study, the GPR survey is conducted using SIR4000 with the 200 MHz, and zig-zag configuration is implemented to acquire 3D grids at cells 1, 2 and free lines grid.…”

The Influences of Basic Physical Properties of Clayey Silt and Silty Sand on Its Laboratory Electrical Resistivity Value in Loose and Dense Conditions

“…al. 2014;Hamzah et al 2009aHamzah et al , 2006aHamzah et al , 2006b, landslides (Abidin et al 2012;Hamzah et al 2009b;Nouioua et al 2015), cavity (Abdallatif et al 2015;Abu-Shariah 2009;Billi et al 2016;Jusoh 2010;Margiotta et al 2015;Martinez-Pagan et al 2010;Schoor 2002), boulder (Hajizadeh & Akhondi 2016;Taioli et al 2009), environmental (Al-Sabahi et al 2008Baharuddin et al 2013;Cuong et al 2016;Hamzah & Chieh 2008;Hamzah et al 2009c;Jeeva & Hamzah 2012;Liu et al 2015;Moghaddam et al 2015;Mohamed et al 2009;Sirhan & Hamidi 2013) and archaeology (Hafez et al 2008;Hawamdeh et al 2015;Masrom et al 2011;Reci et al 2015;Terrón et al 2015). Traditionally, most of the projects involving ERM performed by respective parties possessed their own strength and weakness based on their own experience and knowledge.…”

Ground-penetrating radar survey at the pyramid complex of Senwosret III at Dahshur, Egypt, 2008: search for the lost boat of a Pharaoh

“…GPR has been used successfully at numerous other archeological sites within Egypt (e.g. Abbas et al, 2005;Hafez et al, 2008) and elsewhere (e.g. Goodman et al, 2007;Sternberg and McGill, 1995;Tohge et al, 1998).…”