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Detection and localization of chamber tombs in the environs of ancient Olympia, Peloponnese, Greece, based on a combination of archaeological survey and geophysical prospection
Author(s) -
Obrocki Lea,
Eder Birgitta,
Gehrke HansJoachim,
Lang Franziska,
Vött Andreas,
Willershäuser Timo,
Rusch Katharina,
Wilken Dennis,
HatziSpiliopoulou Georgia,
Kolia ErofiliIris,
Vikatou Olympia
Publication year - 2019
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/gea.21724
Subject(s) - ground penetrating radar , archaeology , geology , electrical resistivity tomography , plateau (mathematics) , prospection , geophysical survey , geography , geophysics , radar , electrical resistivity and conductivity , telecommunications , mathematical analysis , mathematics , engineering , computer science , electrical engineering
Mycenaean chamber tombs are composed of air‐filled burial cavities and, therefore, can be detected by non‐invasive geophysical methods. In this study, an electrical resistivity tomography (ERT)‐based approach was used to detect graves at three different sites in the area surrounding ancient Olympia. We collected ERT data at the necropolis of Mageiras‐Kioupia, where a number of chamber tombs had already been located and partly excavated in order to ground‐truth the ERT response for chamber tombs in different states of preservation. Near the village of Epitalio, a preceding archaeological survey discovered remains of a one chamber tomb in mid‐slope position of a larger hill. There, we applied the ERT‐approach, calibrated at Mageiras‐Kioupia, to the tomb and detected ten more tomb candidates at this site. In addition to ERT, we carried out ground penetrating radar (GPR) studies at the Epitalio site. In general GPR, data are highly consistent with ERT results. We were thus able to localize an unknown, most probably Mycenaean cemetery where no systematic archaeological information previously existed. In the third area of investigation, the Dartisa plateau, no potential chamber tomb comparable to the ones excavated and measured at Mageiras‐Kioupia and Epitalio were identified.