scholarly journals Integrating Geophysical and Photographic Data to Visualize the Quarried Structures of the Roman Town of Bassianae

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2384
Author(s):  
Roland Filzwieser ◽  
Vujadin Ivanišević ◽  
Geert J. Verhoeven ◽  
Christian Gugl ◽  
Klaus Löcker ◽  
...  

Large parts of the urban layout of the abandoned Roman town of Bassianae (in present-day Serbia) are still discernible on the surface today due to the deliberate and targeted quarrying of the Roman foundations. In 2014, all of the town's intramural (and some extramural) areas were surveyed using aerial photography, ground-penetrating radar, and magnetometry to analyze the site's topography and to map remaining buried structures. The surveys showed a strong agreement between the digital surface model derived from the aerial photographs and the geophysical prospection data. However, many structures could only be detected by one method, underlining the benefits of a complementary archaeological prospection approach using multiple methods. This article presents the results of the extensive surveys and their comprehensive integrative interpretation, discussing Bassianae's ground plan and urban infrastructure. Starting with an overview of this Roman town's research history, we present the details of the triple prospection approach, followed by the processing, integrative analysis, and interpretation of the acquired data sets. Finally, this newly gained information is contrasted with a plan of Roman Bassianae compiled in 1935.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Marc N. Levine ◽  
Scott W. Hammerstedt ◽  
Amanda Regnier ◽  
Alex E. Badillo

In this article, we present the most significant results of the Monte Albán Geophysical Archaeology Project. Using ground-penetrating radar, gradiometry, and electrical resistance, we carried out a systematic survey of the site's Main Plaza to identify buried prehispanic features that might shed light on Monte Albán's early history. The most important discoveries include three buried structures dating between the Danibaan (500–300 BC) and Nisa phases (100 BC–AD 100). We argue that the largest structure, measuring 18 × 18 m, was probably a temple platform and that all three of the structures were razed and buried by the end of the Nisa phase at the latest. Furthermore, we contend that these events were part of a major renovation and expansion of the site's Main Plaza that occurred during a pivotal period of dramatic sociopolitical transformation in the Zapotec capital.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Immo Trinks ◽  
Alois Hinterleitner ◽  
Wolfgang Neubauer ◽  
Erich Nau ◽  
Klaus Löcker ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 620-644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoe Elizabeth Jeffery ◽  
Stephen Penn ◽  
David Peter Giles ◽  
Linley Hastewell

The chalk bedrock of the Hampshire Basin, southern England is an important aquifer and is highly susceptible to dissolution, making the development and presence of karstic features a widespread occurrence. These features are hazardous because they provide possible pathways to the underlying aquifer and therefore present potential site-specific contamination risks. There is also evidence of extensive extraction, through both mining and surface quarrying, of chalk, flint and clay over many centuries. Geophysical techniques consisting of electromagnetic (EM31) and ground-penetrating radar surveys were used to identify and characterize target features identified from desk study data. The ground-penetrating radar and EM31 interpretations allowed the classification of non-anthropogenic target features, such as diffuse buried sinkholes with disturbed and subsiding clay-rich infill and varying symmetrical and asymmetrical morphologies. We describe here the investigations of such features identified at Holme Farm, Stansted House, Hampshire. The combination of EM31 data and ground-penetrating radar profiles facilitated the identification of a palaeovalley, cavities and irregular rockhead. This investigation identified locations of aquifer contamination risk as some sinkholes have been sites for the illegal dumping of waste or the infiltration of fertilizers, leaking sewage pipes or animal waste. This potential source of contamination utilizes the sinkhole as a pathway into the highly transmissive White Chalk Subgroup of Hampshire and has caused contamination of the aquifer. We conclude that our integrated approach of geophysical techniques linked to aerial photographs and LiDAR image interpretation was highly effective in the location and characterization of dissolution structures, infilled former quarries and mining features at this site.


Geophysics ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. H13-H22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saulo S. Martins ◽  
Jandyr M. Travassos

Most of the data acquisition in ground-penetrating radar is done along fixed-offset profiles, in which velocity is known only at isolated points in the survey area, at the locations of variable offset gathers such as a common midpoint. We have constructed sparse, heavily aliased, variable offset gathers from several fixed-offset, collinear, profiles. We interpolated those gathers to produce properly sampled counterparts, thus pushing data beyond aliasing. The interpolation methodology estimated nonstationary, adaptive, filter coefficients at all trace locations, including at the missing traces’ corresponding positions, filled with zeroed traces. This is followed by an inversion problem that uses the previously estimated filter coefficients to insert the new, interpolated, traces between the original ones. We extended this two-step strategy to data interpolation by employing a device in which we used filter coefficients from a denser variable offset gather to interpolate the missing traces on a few independently constructed gathers. We applied the methodology on synthetic and real data sets, the latter acquired in the interior of the Antarctic continent. The variable-offset interpolated data opened the door to prestack processing, making feasible the production of a prestack time migrated section and a 2D velocity model for the entire profile. Notwithstanding, we have used a data set obtained in Antarctica; there is no reason the same methodology could not be used somewhere else.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 89-95
Author(s):  
M. Bavusi ◽  
A. Loperte ◽  
V. Lapenna ◽  
U. Moscatelli ◽  
S. Minguzzi

Abstract. A magnetic and Ground Penetrating Radar joint survey was carried out in the framework of the R.I.M.E.M. project that has the aim of supporting the archaeological prospections and drive the selection of the excavation areas related to the Late Roman Period and Early Middle Ages in the Central and Southern Italy. In particular, this papers deals with the magnetic surveys acquired near "Madonna della Valle" and GPR and magnetic joint surveys carried out in "Monastero"site. Most of magnetic maps carried out in "Madonna della Valle" site shown the absence of structured magnetic anomalies, despite of the presence of archaeological signs. Several hypothesis were given to explain this evidence. Joint interpretation performed in "Monastero" site shown more intense magnetic anomalies related with shallower reflections due to probably to buried pipes. Other reflections are related with magnetic anomalies compatible with archaeological targets, but some significant reflections do not correspond to any magnetic anomaly, indicating magnetic method could be "blind" respect the archaeological target. New field surveys including the electrical resistivity tomography could be carried out in order to overcome these acquisition and interpretation difficulties.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 515 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Gouvêa Luiz ◽  
Edithe Da Silva Pereira

ABSTRACT. Magnetic, resistivity and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) methods were applied to Sítio Domingos, a Brazilian archaeological site located in Pará State, to find objects buried by an ancient civilization that may have inhabited the site. Archaeological excavations based on the locations of magnetic anomalies reveal a concentration of ceramic fragments and pots. The correlation between the resistivity models and the soil profile of the study area suggests that the resistivity range of 2000 to 2500 ohm-m represents the archaeological occupation layer. Several anomalous features detected by GPR are correlated with magnetic anomalies. However, when these features are analyzed independently of the magnetic anomalies, they do not conclusively represent the objects being searched. Therefore, GPR is not recommended as the main tool for archaeological prospection in the study area.Keywords: magnetometry, electrical resistivity, GPR, archaeological excavation. RESUMO. Os métodos magnético, resistividade e radar de penetração no solo (GPR) foram aplicados no Sítio Domingos, um sítio arqueológico brasileiro localizado no Estado do Pará, para encontrar objetos enterrados por uma civilização antiga que pode ter habitado a região. Escavações arqueológicas com base nos locais de anomalias magnéticas revelaram uma concentração de fragmentos de cerâmica e vasos. A correlação entre os modelos de resistividade e do perfil do solo da área de estudo sugere que a faixa de resistividade de 2000-2500 ohm-m representa a camada de ocupação arqueológica. V´arias feições anômalas detectadas pelo GPR são correlacionáveis com anomalias magnéticas. No entanto, quando essas feições são analisadas independente das anomalias magnéticas, elas não representam de forma conclusiva os objetos que est~so sendo procurados. Portanto, o GPR não é recomendado como a principal ferramenta de prospecção arqueológica na área de estudo.Palavras-chave: magnetometria, resistividade elétrica, GPR, escavação arqueológica.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. El Emam ◽  
A. Lethy ◽  
Ali M. Radwan ◽  
A. Awad

An archeological study using magnetic and ground-penetrating radar methods has been performed at the Dahshour region (Giza, Egypt), where various covered structures have not been found because of the long coercion of the zone under the military specialists. Dahshour is the southern extension of the Saqqara and Giza Pyramids plateau, around 25 km south of Cairo. The area is known for its colored pyramids—the white, red, and black pyramids, and the famous Bent Pyramid. Four investigation sites were chosen around the Bent Pyramid complex. The geophysical investigation has revealed the presence of some buried structures made up of mud bricks such as tombs, mud-brick walls, causeway, and remains of an ancient temple. Numerous limestone blocks were also detected. The study indicates the possible existence of an older valley temple made up of mud bricks and confirms the existence of another causeway that led to the Nile Valley. To protect the Egyptian heritage around this vital area, a detailed computation of the current crustal stress/strain state has been performed by taking into account all the available GPS observations. Achieved results indicated that the southern and the southeastern sectors of the investigated area are currently accumulating strain, and this means that there is a possibility for future earthquakes to occur around this vital archaeological area. Buried structures are preserved by confinement in the burial materials like a large mold. However, external load or stress can still cause damage. Therefore, during excavation, the stress should be reduced to avoid wall collapsing and structure damage. Therefore, it is recommended to start excavation from the stress direction from the southern side.


Author(s):  
Abdul Razzak T. Ziboon ◽  
Nisreen S. Mohammed ◽  
Nisreen S. Mohammed ◽  
Anaam G. Hamad

Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) is extensively used by a multiple group of service providers that incorporate agronomist, archaeologists, criminologists, engineers, environmental specialists, foresters, geologists, geophysicists, hydrologists, land use managers, and soil scientists. In engineering applications include Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of structures and pavements and locating buried structures etc. GPR is a relatively new geophysical tool that has become increasingly popular due to its high resolution and the need to better understand near-surface conditions. In this paper GPR is applied to six concrete slabs. Radar measurements were performed using a 1000 MHz RAMAC GPR CU-II. Two concrete slabs weren’t reinforced, two have simple reinforcement, and the last two have artificial gaps in their reinforcement. Tests were taken after applying 40% of the slabs’ failure loads. Experiments resulted that the extent and severity of the fatigue cracking was possible to be monitored. In addition, the technique was assistive in determining the failure caused by loading reflected by radargrams.


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