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A geophysical analysis of Aboriginal earth mounds in the Murray River Valley, South Australia
Author(s) -
Ross Dave,
Morrison Michael,
Simyrdanis Kleanthis,
Roberts Amy,
Moffat Ian
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
archaeological prospection
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.785
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1099-0763
pISSN - 1075-2196
DOI - 10.1002/arp.1746
Subject(s) - ground penetrating radar , holocene , geology , electrical resistivity tomography , stratigraphy , archaeology , geophysics , structural basin , earth (classical element) , physical geography , radar , geomorphology , oceanography , paleontology , geography , tectonics , electrical resistivity and conductivity , telecommunications , physics , engineering , computer science , electrical engineering , mathematical physics
Earth mounds are common archaeological features in some regions of Australia, particularly within the Murray‐Darling Basin. These features are generally considered to have formed via the repeated use of earth oven cookery methods employed by Aboriginal people during the mid‐ to late‐Holocene. This study assesses the relative effectiveness of key geophysical methods including magnetometry, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in mapping, and determining the stratigraphy of earth mound sites. Three earth mounds adjacent to Hunchee Creek, on Calperum Station in South Australia's Riverland region, were chosen to conduct a comparative trial of these methods. This research demonstrated that geophysics can be used to both locate mounds and provide information as to deposit thickness and size. Individual ovens within mounds can also be located. This suggests a greater potential role for geophysics in understanding the Holocene archaeological record in Australia.