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Electrical resistivity mapping of landscape modifications at the Talgua site, Olancho, Honduras
Author(s) -
Stierman Donald J.,
Brady James E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-6548(199908)14:6<495::aid-gea2>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - prehistory , excavation , electrical resistivity and conductivity , subsoil , archaeology , geology , electrical resistivity tomography , settlement (finance) , geography , mining engineering , geomorphology , soil science , engineering , world wide web , electrical engineering , payment , soil water , computer science
Geophysical reconnaissance in 1995 provided information useful in developing a successful strategy for the 1996 field season in resistivity mapping of subsurface cultural features at Talgua Village, an archaeological site in eastern Honduras. Ground truth excavations confirmed that high‐resistivity anomalies detected by modified dipole–dipole apparent resistivity pseudosections correlate with a layer of small cobbles imported to fill low spots of this prehistoric settlement. Resistivity measurements reveal that mounds on this site were erected on normal subsoil, while at least one plaza was originally a topographic low that has been filled. The volume of imported stones is at least 500 m 3 , which represents a significant public improvement effort. Similar imported fill under the rest of Talgua Village could be mapped by similar means, and other prehistoric sites of the region could be geophysically tested for similar features. Resistivity profiles provide archaeologists with a quick, inexpensive, accurate, and noninvasive method of determining the extent of landscape modification at Talgua Village. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.