Abstract
This chapter uses case studies to illustrate the way geophysical techniques are integrated into archaeological approaches. The general idea is to show how the different geophysical models obtained using magnetic, electric, seismic and GPR data, are used in the archaeological praxis and the capacity they have to respond to particular questions.
To understand their area of application and how we can extract useful information from them, it is first necessary to establish the basic points on which the geophysical models are established. For this reason, the most general features of the geophysical exploration techniques are presented first, followed by, in successive sections, a description of their main areas of application illustrated with examples.
These areas of application have been grouped into three domains: (1) the use of geophysical models for working out the geoarchaeological context of a site; (2) for obtaining subsurface models containing the spatial distribution of buried structures; and (3) for making a detailed study of a particular structure.
We conclude this chapter by showing that geophysical information is a useful tool in archaeological research. Thanks to these methods, we are able determine the geological features of a site and assess their potential value in order to plan subsequent archaeological activities.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aitken J (1958) Magnetic prospecting I. The Water Newton Survey. Archaeometry 1:24–29
Aitken MJ (1961) Physics and archaeology. Interscience, New York
Becker H (1997) Basilika Kaiser Konstatins in Ostia Antica mit modernsedtem Magnetometer entdeckt? Denkmalpflege Informationen, hrsg. V. Bayer. Landersamt für Denkmalpflegem Ausgabe B. Nr. 106/22. August 1997-2
Berge MA, Drahor MG (2011) Electrical resistivity tomography investigations of multilayered archaeological settlements: part I – modelling. Archaeol Prospect 18:159–171
Clark A (1986) Archaeologycal geophysics in Britain. Geophysics 51(7):1404–1413
Daniels DJ (ed) (2004) Ground-penetrating radar, 2nd edn. The Institution of Electrical Engineers, London, p 726. isbn:0-86341-360-9
Fasbindert JWE (1994) Die magnetishen Eigenschaften und die Genese ferromagnetique Minerale in Bödem im Hindblick auf die magnetsche Prospektion archäelogischer Boderndenkmäler, Buxh am Erlbach
Fernández G, Teixidó T, Peña JA, Burillo F, Claros J (2015) Using shallow geophysical methods to characterise the monumental building at the Segeda I site (Spain). J Archaeol Sci Rep 2:427–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.04.0062352-409X/2015
Gaffney C, Gater J (2003) Revealing the buried past: geophysics for archaeologists stroud. (Tempus)
Gibson TH (1986) Magnetic prospection on prehistoric sites in western Canada. Geophysics 51(3):553–560
Irano Y, Dannoura M, Aono K, Igatashi T, Ishii M, Yamase K, Makita N, Kanazawa Y (2009) Limiting factors in the detection of tree roots using ground-penetrating radar. Plant Soil 319:15–24
Lecome I, Gjoystdal H, Dalhe A, Pedersen OC (2000) Improving modeling and inversion in refraction seismics with a first order Eifonal solver. Geophys Prospect 48:437–454
Loke MH (2015) 2-D and 3-D ERT surveys and data interpretation, Piedmont regional Order of geologists Pasi geophysics. Turin, Italy, 10th Sept. 2015. Geotomo Software Pvt Ltd. www.geotomosoft.com
Martínez-Moreno FJ, Galindo-Zaldívar J, Pedrera A, Teixido T, Ruano P, Peña JA, González-Castillo L, Ruiz-Constán A, López-Chicano M, Martín-Rosales W (2014) Integrated geophysical methods for studying the karst system of Gruta de las Maravillas (Aracena, Southwest Spain). J Appl Geophys 107:149–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2014.05.021
Novo A, Lorenzo H, Rial FI, Solla M (2012) From pseudo-3D to full-resolution GPR imaging of a complex Roman Site. Near Surf Geophys 10:11–15. https://doi.org/10.3997/1873-064.2011016
Peña JA, Teixidó T (2008) Intervención arqueológica punctual, prospección superficial y prospección geofísica con radra del subsuelo modelaidad 3D en la Hoya Nueva, junto a la Alcazaba de almería. Internal document of Andalusian Institute of Geophysics (Granada University). Ref. AGA/2008-56
Peña JA, Teixidó T (2012) Cover surfaces as a new technique for 3D GPR image enhancement: Archaeological aspplications. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Granada. http://hdl.handle.net/10481/22949
Peña JA, Teixidó T, Carmona E, Sierra M (2008) Prospección magnética y radar 3D como métodos para obtener información a priori en la planificación de una excavación arqueológica. Caso de estudio: Yacimiento del Cortijo de Quintos (Córdoba, España). http://hdl.handle.net/10481/23460
Teixidó T, Peña JA, Lopez Castro JL (2010) Prospecció Geofísica en el Yacimiento Arqueológico de Utica, Túnez. Campaña arqueológica de 2010. Internal document of Andalusian Institute of Geophysics (Granada University). Ref. AGA-ID/2010-78
Teixidó T, Artigot EG, Peña JA, Molina F, Nájera T, Carrión F (2013a) Geoarchaeological context of the Motilla de la Vega Site (Spain) based on electrical resistivity tomography. Archaeol Prospect 20:11–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/arp.1440
Teixidó T, Peña JA, Ruso JA, Alcalá S (2013b) Assessment of experimental device and the GPR resolution suitable to characterize the cork oak root system. Case of study la Alcaidesa Natural Park, Cádiz (SPAIN). Internal document of Andalusian Institute of Geophysics (Granada University). Ref. AGA-ID/2013-19
Teixidó T, Peña JA, Moya L, Alemán B, Claros J (2014) Archaeologic superficial prospection and GPR exploration in the Roman Site of Ciavieja (Elejido, Spain). Internal document of Andalusian Institute of Geophysics (Granada University). Ref. AGA/2014-104
Acknowledgements
All the geophysical models presented in this chapter were generated by Applied Geophysics in the Andalusian Institute of Geophysics at the University of Granada (IAG-UGR). Both the geophysical instruments for acquiring the data and the processing software were purchased thanks to a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Teixidó, M.T., Peña, J.A. (2019). The Utility of Geophysical Models in Archaeology: Illustrative Case Studies. In: El-Qady, G., Metwaly, M. (eds) Archaeogeophysics. Natural Science in Archaeology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78861-6_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78861-6_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-78860-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-78861-6
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)