Archaeogeophysics

Geophysics is a nature science that can obtain archaeological information. Techniques used in archaeogeophysics are gravity, magnetism (nature based); electromagnetic, seismic, induced polarization, ground probing (artificially based) and many more like these.

First works are done in North America and Britain in the 1940s. According to the developments of computer technologies (like developments in image processing and modelling), remote sensing became more commonly used in archaeology. Magnetism, resistivity and ground probing are the most common techniques.

In Turkey, archaeogeophysical techniques are first used in 1960s at Nemrut and Giges tumuluses and in the Keban Project. At 1970s, Hattusas and Demirci Hoyuk became a part of the first investigated mounds with the archaeogeophysical techniques in the world. As a very fast technique to obtain information about the undersoil, archaeogeophysics can help us to protect cultural heritage from the destruction of dam lakes and other constructions like roads or buildings.

Read full text Archaeogeophysics article (in Turkish).

Archaeogeophysics related images.

Archaeogeophysics bibliography.