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Magnetic gradient and ground penetrating radar prospecting of buried earthen archaeological remains at the Qocho City site in Turpan, China
Author(s) -
Shi Zhanjie,
Tian Gang,
Hobbs Richard W.,
Wo Haowei,
Lin Jinxin,
Wu Leyuan,
Liu Haiyan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
near surface geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.639
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1873-0604
pISSN - 1569-4445
DOI - 10.3997/1873-0604.2015033
Subject(s) - ground penetrating radar , excavation , geology , magnetic survey , prospecting , geophysical survey , archaeology , brick , radar , archaeomagnetic dating , magnetic anomaly , geophysics , mining engineering , geotechnical engineering , geography , telecommunications , computer science , earth's magnetic field , physics , quantum mechanics , magnetic field
In order to test the ability of geophysical technologies to detect buried structures made of mud brick and rammed earth, a geophysical survey was acquired at Qocho City site of China in 2012 using magnetic gradient and ground penetrating radar (GPR). Magnetic anomalies were interpreted as the response of house wall foundations, pits, and a temple base by reference to archaeological results from a neighbouring excavation area. The magnetic data were complemented by 2D ground penetrating radar profiles, which provided additional information on the depth of these causative structures. An archaeological survey dated 1913 reported the layout of three houses that have since been largely razed to the ground in the study area. Our geophysical survey confirmed the locations of two houses. This study shows that magnetic and ground penetrating radar methods are valuable tools to detect buried earthen archaeological remains in a dry environment.