- School of Archaeological Sciences
University of Bradford
Bradford BD7 1DP
U.K.
Armin Schmidt
University of Bradford, Archaeological Sciences, Department Member
- Durham University, Archaeology, Department Memberadd
- Photogrammetry, Earth Sciences, Archaeology, Archaeological Science, Archaeological geophysics (Archaeology), Remote Sensing and GIS Applied to Natural Resources and Population, and 20 moreArchaeological Geophysics, Geomatics, Exploration Geophysics, Information Visualization, GI Metadata, Geoinformatics, Geophysics, Iranian Archaeology, Archaeological Sciences, Palaeoclimate, Archaeoseismology, Archaeological GIS, Geoarchaeology, Neolithic & Chalcolithic Archaeology, Soil Magnetism, Magnetic Prospection, Magnetic Susceptibility, Archaeogeophysics, Archaeological Prospection, and Soil Scienceedit
- I am an archaeological geophysicist, trained as a physicist, geoscientist and IT developer and undertaking research a... moreI am an archaeological geophysicist, trained as a physicist, geoscientist and IT developer and undertaking research at the interface between archaeology and the natural sciences. I have applied novel methods of geophysical prospection worldwide from Ecuador to Iran, Nepal and Japan, working as a researcher and consulting for UNESCO. I am founder and Chairman of the International Society for Archaeological Prospection (ISAP) as well as a co-founder of the Archaeology Data Service (ADS) and the Bradford Centre for Archaeological Prospection (B-CAP).edit
Earth Resistance for Archaeologists, written by the foremost expert in the field, provides archaeologists with the know-how required to exploit the significant potential of earth resistance methods. A wide variety of possible uses are... more
Earth Resistance for Archaeologists, written by the foremost expert in the field, provides archaeologists with the know-how required to exploit the significant potential of earth resistance methods. A wide variety of possible uses are presented, including cases where earth resistance surveys succeeded in mapping buried archaeological remains that magnetometer surveys were unable to detect. Examples include earth resistance data from many archaeological sites, including in England, Scotland, Nepal, Bangladesh, and more. The archaeological features that can be detected through earth resistance methods are varied, ranging from ditches, pits, and grave cuts to stone and brick foundations, and even include whole landscapes. Whereas area surveys were traditionally the most common earth resistance method, depth profiling and vertical imaging have become well-developed tools that allow electrical depth investigations in three dimensions. Both techniques are described in detail and archaeologists will be able to apply them in their work. Content is equally relevant for environmental investigations.
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Magnetometry for Archaeologists covers the most widely used method for archaeological surveying. Authors Arnold Aspinall, Chris Gaffney, and Armin Schmidt recount the history of magnetometers from their inception through today's... more
Magnetometry for Archaeologists covers the most widely used method for archaeological surveying. Authors Arnold Aspinall, Chris Gaffney, and Armin Schmidt recount the history of magnetometers from their inception through today's state-of-the-art detectors, explain the physics behind the different types of sensors, and describe the most fruitful ways in which the technology can be employed. They also consider the theoretical and practical uses of magnetometry from for many archaeological periods and regions. The reader learns exactly what magnetometry measures, and how knowledge gained from it influences the ways in which surveys are undertaken. The authors also discuss the potential for and the problems associated with the use, display, and interpretation of buried remains.
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Marine magnetic surveying has become a standard technique for mapping the location of ferrous material on the seabed. Existing guidance documents are concerned principally with data collection methods. The aim of the project was to... more
Marine magnetic surveying has become a standard technique for mapping the location of ferrous material on the seabed. Existing guidance documents are concerned principally with data collection methods. The aim of the project was to acquire a better understanding of magnetic data and thus develop our ability to interpret these data with increased confidence.
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This collection of papers is based on a colloquium in 2018 concentrating on the application of geophysical survey techniques in (preventive) archaeology. Based on the discussions durig the colloquium and the collected papers a number of... more
This collection of papers is based on a colloquium in 2018 concentrating on the application of geophysical survey techniques in (preventive) archaeology. Based on the discussions durig the colloquium and the collected papers a number of recommendations are formulated concerning a more efficiënt application and integration of geophysical surveying in the archaeological practice.
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Magnetic methods have become important tools for the scientific investigation of archaeological sites, with magnetic prospection surveys and archaeomagnetic dating being the most prominent ones. The principles behind these techniques were... more
Magnetic methods have become important tools for the scientific investigation of archaeological sites, with magnetic prospection surveys and archaeomagnetic dating being the most prominent ones. The principles behind these techniques were initially applied to larger and older features, for example prospecting for ore deposits (see Magnetic anomalies for geology and resources) or paleomagnetic dating (see Paleomagnetism). When these techniques were adapted for archaeological targets it was soon established that very different methodologies were required. Archaeological features are relatively small and buried at shallow depth, and the required dating accuracy is in the order of tens of years.
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Geophysical methods are an essential tool for archaeological prospection on all scales of investigation: whether for detailed analysis of a single archaeological feature, to provide an overview of all features on an archaeological site,... more
Geophysical methods are an essential tool for archaeological prospection on all scales of investigation: whether for detailed analysis of a single archaeological feature, to provide an overview of all features on an archaeological site, or for the assessment of a whole landscape. The relationship between geophysical measurements at the surface and buried archaeological features is complex and the interpretation of resulting data requires geophysical and archaeological insight. This chapter is a brief introduction to the two main geophysical techniques used in landscape archaeology, namely earth resistance and magnetic surveying. More detailed discussions have been published elsewhere (Clark 1990; Gaffney & Gater 2003; Schmidt 2007; Scollar et al. 1990) and current research is mainly made available through the journal Archaeological Prospection.
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For the interpretation of archaeological geophysical data as archaeological features, it is essential that the recorded anomalies can be clearly delineated and analyzed, and therefore, care has been taken to obtain the best possible data.... more
For the interpretation of archaeological geophysical data as archaeological features, it is essential that the recorded anomalies can be clearly delineated and analyzed, and therefore, care has been taken to obtain the best possible data. However, as with all measurements, data are degraded by unwanted components, or noise. This review clarifies the terminology, discusses the four major sources of noise (instrument, use of instrument, external, soil), and demonstrates how it can be characterized using geostatistical and wavenumber methods. It is important to recognize that even with improved instruments, some noise sources, like soil noise, may persist and that degraded data may be the result of unexpected sources, for example, global positioning system synchronization problems. Suggestions for the evaluation and recording of noise levels are provided to allow estimation of the limit of detection for archaeological geophysical anomalies.
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Tools for the processing of raster data are well developed, but noisy data still pose considerable challenges. If anomalies are broken up into isolated individual readings, for example due to high noise levels, it may still be possible... more
Tools for the processing of raster data are well developed, but noisy data still pose considerable challenges. If anomalies are broken up into isolated individual readings, for example due to high noise levels, it may still be possible for a human interpreter to recognize the isolated readings as being part of a single anomaly. However, such a concept of neighbourhood is difficult to implement with raster tools and an alternative, vector-based approach is presented here. By converting the measured raster data into polygons, it is possible to undertake shape and neighbourhood analysis to process the data. This allows discriminating, reshaping and merging of the anomalies based on their spatial location relative to each other (neighbourhood) and with respect to the size of each anomaly. The added advantage of this approach is the possibility to use the processed vector data as a basis for interpretation and visualization diagrams in two- and three dimensions. This method is applied to the GPR survey of a necropolis at Pessinus, showing several types of grave monuments.
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For thousands of years, humans have inhabited locations that are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, earthquakes, and floods. In order to investigate the extent to which Holocene environmental changes may have impacted on... more
For thousands of years, humans have inhabited locations that are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, earthquakes, and floods. In order to investigate the extent to which Holocene environmental changes may have impacted on cultural evolution, we present new geologic, geomorphic, and chronologic data from the Qazvin Plain in northwest Iran that provides a backdrop of natural environmental changes for the simultaneous cultural dynamics observed on the Central Iranian Plateau. Well-resolved archaeological data from the neighbouring settlements of Zagheh (7170-6300 yr BP), Ghabristan (6215-4950 yr BP) and Sagzabad (4050-2350 yr BP) indicate that Holocene occupation of the Hajiarab alluvial fan was interrupted by a 900 year settlement hiatus. Multi-proxy climate data from nearby lakes in northwest Iran suggest a transition from arid early Holocene conditions to more humid middle Holocene conditions from ca. 7550-6750 yr BP, coinciding with the settlement of Zagheh, and a peak in aridity at ca. 4550 yr BP during the settlement hiatus. Palaeoseismic investigations indicate that large active fault systems in close proximity to the tell sites incurred a series of large (MW ~7.1) earthquakes with return periods of ~500-1000 years during human occupation of the tells. Mapping and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) chronology of the alluvial sequences reveals changes in depositional style from coarse grained unconfined sheet flow deposits to proximal channel flow and distally prograding alluvial deposits sometime after ca. 8830 yr BP, possibly reflecting an increase in moisture following the early Holocene arid phase. The coincidence of major climate changes, earthquake activity, and varying sedimentation styles with changing patterns of human occupation on the Hajiarab fan indicate links between environmental and anthropogenic systems. However, temporal coincidence does not necessitate a fundamental causative dependency.
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For millennia, humans have lived in locations that are highly vulnerable to large earthquakes, often out of strategic or cultural necessity and/or the proximity of these locations to resources necessary for survival. Despite the often... more
For millennia, humans have lived in locations that are highly vulnerable to large earthquakes, often out of strategic or cultural necessity and/or the proximity of these locations to resources necessary for survival. Despite the often catastrophic effects when large earthquakes occur, recent history reveals that human nature is to rebuild rather than relocate, implying that seismic activity is not a sufficient deterrent of population growth in tectonically vulnerable areas. In order to investigate whether this was the case for ancient civilizations, and thus perhaps a fundamental tenet of human behaviour, we develop a palaeo-earthquake history for the active Cheskin and Ipak Faults in northwestern Iran and compare this with the well-resolved archaeological history of the nearby ‘Sagzabad cluster’ settlements of Zagheh (7170-6300 yr BP), Ghabristan (6215-4950 yr BP) and Sagzabad (4050-2350 yr BP). By combining new geologic, geomorphic, and chronologic datasets, we reveal the presence of a fault-propagated anticline formed by large (MW ~6.5 to 7.0) earthquakes on a blind thrust fault that projects to seismogenic depth immediately beneath the Sagzabad cluster settlement sites. We estimate that large earthquakes with a return period of ~440-775 yrs occurred on the Cheskin and Ipak Faults during human occupation of the Sagzabad cluster. Gaussian cumulative distribution modelling indicates a >90% probability under most faulting scenarios that the energy release from these earthquakes would have been of sufficient magnitude to generate peak horizontal acceleration (PHA) values at the Sagzabad cluster in excess of likely threshold values for complete settlement destruction. Poisson modelling assuming a time-displacement repeating model for earthquake recurrence indicates a 66 (42) % probability of one (two) earthquakes that would generate PHA ≥ 0.25g occurring during occupation of Zagheh, a 79 (55) % probability for Ghabristan, and an 88 (65) % probability for Sagzabad. Despite the near certainty that the residents of these Holocene settlements experienced large destructive earthquakes, the near-continuous history of occupation at this area suggests that early humans were not apt to relocate in response to earthquake activity. Environmental (e.g., alluviation, stream channel avulsion, climate change), cultural and/or political factors may have been more important drivers of settlement shifts and abandonment at the Sagzabad cluster of Iran.
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The simultaneous use of several archaeological prospection techniques can provide additional information for the interpretation of buried features. For this to work, it is necessary to explore the spatial relation between the data sets... more
The simultaneous use of several archaeological prospection techniques can provide additional information for the interpretation of buried features. For this to work, it is necessary to explore the spatial relation between the data sets and appropriate visualisation is required. Different data sets can be combined into a single compound that represents all data available, although the sources can no longer be differentiated. Using different visual classes (e.g. contour lines, grey shades, surfaces and orthogonal colours) allows to overcome these limitation. The various methods are evaluated with synthetic model data and field results from the Newstead Roman Fort.
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A log-coffin excavated in the early nineteenth century proved to be well enough preserved in the early twenty-first century for the full armoury of modern scientific investigation to give its occupants and contents new identity, new... more
A log-coffin excavated in the early nineteenth century proved to be well enough preserved in the early twenty-first century for the full armoury of modern scientific investigation to give its occupants and contents new identity, new origins and a new date. In many ways the interpretation is much the same as before: a local big man buried looking out to sea. Modern analytical techniques can create a person more real, more human and more securely anchored in history. This research team shows how.
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The chalcolithic tell of Ghabristan in NW Iran is now buried by alluvium and a magnetometer survey of the tell and its surroundings was undertaken to reveal any features under this cover. After the abandonment of the tell in the late... more
The chalcolithic tell of Ghabristan in NW Iran is now buried by alluvium and a magnetometer survey of the tell and its surroundings was undertaken to reveal any features under this cover. After the abandonment of the tell in the late third millennium BC it was used as an Iron Age cemetery by inhabitants of the neighbouring tell of Sagzabad. The magnetometer data show a related irregularly shaped channel that is also considered to be of Iron Age date. Its shallow burial depth, compared with the thick sedimentary layers underneath, indicates a considerable slowdown of alluviation rates in the 2nd millennium BC, possibly related to environmental changes. The survey also found evidence for undisturbed buried building remains, most likely associated with copper workshops.
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The small village of Towton is situated four kilometres to the south of the market town of Tadcaster and 18 kilometres southwest of the city of York, the medieval secular and ecclesiastical centre of northern England (Plate 1). This small... more
The small village of Towton is situated four kilometres to the south of the market town of Tadcaster and 18 kilometres southwest of the city of York, the medieval secular and ecclesiastical centre of northern England (Plate 1). This small medieval hamlet gave its name to what is regarded as the largest battle ever fought on British soil, with over 100,000 combatants allegedly taking part and approximately 28,000 dead (English Heritage 1995).
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A magnetic susceptibility field survey was undertaken at a former industrial iron production and processing site. The aim was to investigate the suitability of such measurements for indicating heavy metal pollution ('proxies').... more
A magnetic susceptibility field survey was undertaken at a former industrial iron production and processing site. The aim was to investigate the suitability of such measurements for indicating heavy metal pollution ('proxies'). Geochemical analysis of soil samples showed close correlation of heavy metal concentrations for Fe, Cu, Mn and Ni. In addition, iron concentrations corresponded with magnetic susceptibility field measurements, particularly after removing surface vegetation. Best correlation was obtained for susceptibility values beyond a site-specific threshold. These results demonstrate the potential of magnetic susceptibility mapping for fast preliminary site assessment, greatly reducing the scale of subsequent geochemical sampling and analysis.
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In archaeological prospection, computer processing is essential for all stages of data manipulation. This article investigates the contributions which informatics has made in the past and looks at its potential for the future. It is shown... more
In archaeological prospection, computer processing is essential for all stages of data manipulation. This article investigates the contributions which informatics has made in the past and looks at its potential for the future. It is shown how the workflow of satellite imagery, aerial photography and geophysical prospection can be broken down into measurements, acquisition, processing, visualisation and interpretation. Based on these categories, the advantages of digital data manipulations are explored with individual examples. It is shown that informatics can greatly assist with the final archaeological analysis of the measurements but that human experience and assessments are crucial for a meaningful interpretation
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Non-destructive geophysical imaging techniques have been applied to the sedimentary deposits within the reputedly largest cave entrance chamber in Western Europe. The Vestibule of Peak Cavern is thought to have been the site of human... more
Non-destructive geophysical imaging techniques have been applied to the sedimentary deposits within the reputedly largest cave entrance chamber in Western Europe. The Vestibule of Peak Cavern is thought to have been the site of human habitation since the Late Palaeolithic. The depth to the cave floor and the sedimentology and archaeology of the cave fill was uncertain.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is shown to produce good quality images of dry cave deposits and underlying limestone cave floors. The GPR images show the sedimentological and archaeological distribution of the cave-fill, identify buried ‘houses’ and allow the mostly buried cave floor to be mapped. GPR and ground resistivity images are combined with a Total Station survey of cave topography in a 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) model. By combining the several lines of evidence within the model, the cave floor is mapped. Further analysis of the CAD model is used to address geological, speleological and archaeological issues.
A follow-up data acquisition program could now be designed to improve the extent and quality of the GPR imagery in order to answer specific questions. Based upon this investigation and recent literature, the oldest deposits, within the Vestibule cave fill, are predicted to be located at the highest level. A 3D-GPR survey is recommended to define the stratigraphy of any lateral accretion surfaces within the cave fill and the effects of human activity in partially remodelling them.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is shown to produce good quality images of dry cave deposits and underlying limestone cave floors. The GPR images show the sedimentological and archaeological distribution of the cave-fill, identify buried ‘houses’ and allow the mostly buried cave floor to be mapped. GPR and ground resistivity images are combined with a Total Station survey of cave topography in a 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) model. By combining the several lines of evidence within the model, the cave floor is mapped. Further analysis of the CAD model is used to address geological, speleological and archaeological issues.
A follow-up data acquisition program could now be designed to improve the extent and quality of the GPR imagery in order to answer specific questions. Based upon this investigation and recent literature, the oldest deposits, within the Vestibule cave fill, are predicted to be located at the highest level. A 3D-GPR survey is recommended to define the stratigraphy of any lateral accretion surfaces within the cave fill and the effects of human activity in partially remodelling them.
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Geophysical surveys are a standard method of site assessment. However very few are used specifically to evaluate structures associated with metallurgical activity. Routine geophysical surveys frequently encounter ironworking activity but... more
Geophysical surveys are a standard method of site assessment. However very few are used specifically to evaluate structures associated with metallurgical activity. Routine geophysical surveys frequently encounter ironworking activity but this data is usually ignored as it tends to be excessively 'noisy' and difficult to interpret. A combination of geophysical surveying techniques were applied to three iron-smelting sites in North Yorkshire to investigate the effectiveness of geophysics in identifying iron-working activity.
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The results of a geophysical survey of the site of Tilaurakot, Nepal.
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The results of a 2001 cultural and environmental monitoring of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lumbini, Nepal.
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The results of a geophysical survey of the site of Ramagrama, Nepal
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The results of a geophysical survey of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Lumbini Sacred Garden, Nepal.
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ABSTRACT No Abstract
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ABSTRACT In the summer of 1996, a series of 20 parallel archaeological pseudosections were surveyed over an area of topographically variable terrain at the site of Scatness Broch, Shetland. Each electrode position was located using an... more
ABSTRACT In the summer of 1996, a series of 20 parallel archaeological pseudosections were surveyed over an area of topographically variable terrain at the site of Scatness Broch, Shetland. Each electrode position was located using an Electronic Distance Meter (EDM) so that models of the terrain could be established.When carried out over undulating or uneven terrain, the principle of the pseudosection is generally perceived to incorporate a disturbance termed the ‘topographic effect’. The current research indicates that topographic anomalies are not always present, and if so, are dependent upon the amount of change that takes place within the range of the maximum probe array or the way in which the topography is modelled. If gradual changes occur within the array, relatively steep inclines can be encountered without an anomaly being produced. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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The aim of these guidelines is to provide an overview of the issues to be considered when undertaking or commissioning geophysical survey in archaeology. As every project differs in its requirements (e.g. from fi nding sites to creating... more
The aim of these guidelines is to provide an overview of the issues to be considered when undertaking or commissioning geophysical survey in archaeology. As every project differs in its requirements (e.g. from fi nding sites to creating detailed maps of individual structures) and variations in geological and environmental conditions lead to different geophysical responses, there is no single ‘best’ survey technique or methodology. This guide, in its European approach, highlights the various questions to be asked before a survey is undertaken. It does not provide recipe book advice on how to do a geophysical survey or a tick list of which technique is suitable under what conditions: there is no substitute for consulting experienced archaeological geophysicists on these matters. Using geophysical techniques and methods inappropriately will lead to disappointment and may, ultimately, result in archaeologists not using them at all.
There is no formalised standard for the conduct of geophysical survey in archaeology, mainly because there are many parameters that determine the outcome, and there are various purposes for which the results may be used. A variety of geophysical techniques is available (e.g. magnetometer, earth resistance and ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey) and an archaeological geophysicist will chose a particular methodology for collecting data with any of these techniques (e.g. a gridded survey with a specific transect separation). The choices will depend on the archaeological questions being asked (whether broad, like “are there any archaeological features in this planned road corridor?” or detailed as in “is this wall foundation one brick wide or two?”). The following sections discuss the issues for consideration when selecting geophysical techniques and methodologies, but do not specify specific requirements as these will vary according to context.
There is no formalised standard for the conduct of geophysical survey in archaeology, mainly because there are many parameters that determine the outcome, and there are various purposes for which the results may be used. A variety of geophysical techniques is available (e.g. magnetometer, earth resistance and ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey) and an archaeological geophysicist will chose a particular methodology for collecting data with any of these techniques (e.g. a gridded survey with a specific transect separation). The choices will depend on the archaeological questions being asked (whether broad, like “are there any archaeological features in this planned road corridor?” or detailed as in “is this wall foundation one brick wide or two?”). The following sections discuss the issues for consideration when selecting geophysical techniques and methodologies, but do not specify specific requirements as these will vary according to context.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Geophysics, Remote Sensing, Landscape Archaeology, Archaeological Science, and 21 moreArchaeological Method & Theory, Archaeological geophysics (Archaeology), Survey (Archaeological Method & Theory), Cultural Heritage Management, Remote sensing and GIS applications in Landscape Research, Archaeological Prospection, Archaeological Geophysics, Archaeological Fieldwork, Archaeological Methodology, Archaeological Heritage Management, Near surface Geophysics, Heritage, Archaeological survey, Science for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, Applied Geophysics, Archaeological Sciences, Magnetometry, Archaeological Geophysics Exploration Geophysics Applied Geophysics Near surface Geophysics, Settlement Dynamics, Archaeological Prospection, Archeological Prospection, Magnetometry, and Magnetometry In Archaeology
A log-coffin excavated in the early nineteenth century proved to be well enough preserved in the early twenty-first century for the full armoury of modern scientific investigation to give its occupants and contents new identity, new... more
A log-coffin excavated in the early nineteenth century proved to be well enough preserved in the early twenty-first century for the full armoury of modern scientific investigation to give its occupants and contents new identity, new origins and a new date. In many ways the interpretation is much the same as before: a local big man buried looking out to sea. Modern analytical techniques can create a person more real, more human and more securely anchored in history. This research team shows how.
Research Interests: Conservation, Archaeological Science, Cultural Heritage Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Osteology, and 25 moreBronze Age Europe (Archaeology), Bronze Age Archaeology, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Archaeological Ethics, Human Remains (Anthropology), Palaeopathology, Burial Practices (Archaeology), Archaeological Conservation, Bronze Age (Archaeology), Archaeological Heritage Management, Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Osteology (Anthropology), Science for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, Human Osteology, Bronze Age, Early Bronze Age, Archaeology of death and burial, Forensic Osteology, Conservation-restoration archaeological materials, Archaeological Sciences, Human remains in Archaeology, Archaeological heritage, Human Osteology, Bioarchaeology, Bioarchaeology, Osteology, Paleopathology, and Conservation Archaeological Wood
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In March 2009 English Heritage commissioned Historic Environment Projects, Cornwall Council to carry out an initial theoretical study to result in an Updated Project Design (UPD) to inform field trials of different types of marine... more
In March 2009 English Heritage commissioned Historic Environment Projects, Cornwall Council to carry out an initial theoretical study to result in an Updated Project Design (UPD) to inform field trials of different types of marine magnetometer in controlled conditions. The project was funded through the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF). The main part of the theoretical study was carried out by a team of external maritime and/or geophysics specialists.
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Geophysical techniques are often considered to have little application on iron-working sites because the responses from large quantities of iron slag can mask structural remains associated with iron production. This may result in the... more
Geophysical techniques are often considered to have little application on iron-working sites because the responses from large quantities of iron slag can mask structural remains associated with iron production. This may result in the incomplete or erroneous interpretation of the geophysical data. Geophysical surveys, can, however, identify the strong magnetic anomaly associated with a furnace and in these circumstances have worked well. Slag can produce a wide range of responses, which may be attributed to changes in iron-content, depth of burial and thickness of the slag deposit. A more detailed examination of the data, therefore, can often lead to the identification of structures.
The geophysical survey work in the Rievaulx area in North Yorkshire, England has examined iron-working activity ranging from a bloomery site to a blast furnace with a finery/chafery complex. Geophysical surveys were undertaken on eight sites to measure magnetic anomalies, magnetic susceptibility and earth resistance. One geophysically surveyed bloomery site was subsequently excavated.
The geophysical interpretations can be compared with the historical evidence. Cistercian monks from Rievaulx Abbey operated several of the sites surveyed. After the dissolution of the Abbey in 1538, iron-making continued under the Duke of Rutland, who constructed a charcoal-fired furnace at Rievaulx in ca. 1570. The geophysical work has led to a reassessment of the use of water-power, which was associated with two finery/chafery complexes in the Rievaulx area.
Most of the surveys have identified iron-working features that can be matched to topographic changes. The paper covers the results from some of the Rievaulx surveys and details the types of feature than can be identified, including furnace sites, buildings, leats and slag tips.
The geophysical survey work in the Rievaulx area in North Yorkshire, England has examined iron-working activity ranging from a bloomery site to a blast furnace with a finery/chafery complex. Geophysical surveys were undertaken on eight sites to measure magnetic anomalies, magnetic susceptibility and earth resistance. One geophysically surveyed bloomery site was subsequently excavated.
The geophysical interpretations can be compared with the historical evidence. Cistercian monks from Rievaulx Abbey operated several of the sites surveyed. After the dissolution of the Abbey in 1538, iron-making continued under the Duke of Rutland, who constructed a charcoal-fired furnace at Rievaulx in ca. 1570. The geophysical work has led to a reassessment of the use of water-power, which was associated with two finery/chafery complexes in the Rievaulx area.
Most of the surveys have identified iron-working features that can be matched to topographic changes. The paper covers the results from some of the Rievaulx surveys and details the types of feature than can be identified, including furnace sites, buildings, leats and slag tips.
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... the impact and therefore protect even the most vulnerable of archaeological sites. ... The square array revisited: a lightweight multisensor platform for vulnerable soil environments ... bref : Revue spécialisée dans les techniques et... more
... the impact and therefore protect even the most vulnerable of archaeological sites. ... The square array revisited: a lightweight multisensor platform for vulnerable soil environments ... bref : Revue spécialisée dans les techniques et les nouvelles méthodes archéologiques The journal ...
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Poster presented at the 11th International Conference on Archaeological Prospection, 15-18 September 2015, Warsaw
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The DART Project is examining four specific locations in great detail to that we can identify how environmental changes impact soil conditions. Such aspects greatly affect the success of archaeological prospection (both geophysical and... more
The DART Project is examining four specific locations in great detail to that we can identify how environmental changes impact soil conditions. Such aspects greatly affect the success of archaeological prospection (both geophysical and optical techniques). The project has collected in-situ measured water content, electrical conductivity, temperature and weather readings and will compare these values with results from monthly geophysical and spectrometry surveys. This paper will examine the effects of differing buried archaeological ditch sediments and the adjacent undisturbed soils and changes in water content (derived from apparent permittivity measurements) on the changing geophysical response, recorded throughout the survey period (June 2011-Sept 2012).
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The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-pro t purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full DRO policy for further details.
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The Lower Carboniferous Castleton Reef, situated in Derbyshire, UK, is riddled with an extensive network of cave systems. Peak Cavern, situated in Castleton, forms the exit of one of these systems. Ford (1999) recommends further... more
The Lower Carboniferous Castleton Reef, situated in Derbyshire, UK, is riddled with an extensive network of cave systems. Peak Cavern, situated in Castleton, forms the exit of one of these systems. Ford (1999) recommends further investigations of "promising cave sites, such as Peak Cavern entrance". The entrance (or 'Vestibule') was first recorded in the Domesday Book. The Vestibule may have been a site of human habitation since the Upper Palaeolithic. Hemp rope has been manufactured at Peak Cavern for the last four or five hundred years on terraces sculpted from the cave earth deposits (Hancock, 1999). The depth of the cave fill and its sedimentological and/or archaeological layering were all uncertain. Invasive archaeology of the cave earth deposits is prohibited, so non-destructive, geophysical imaging techniques have been applied.
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The Palace of Diocletian, now the old town of Split, is one of the most important structures for the study of late Roman palaces, imperial ceremonial and urban change in late antiquity. At the heart of this palatial complex is the... more
The Palace of Diocletian, now the old town of Split, is one of the most important structures for the study of late Roman palaces, imperial ceremonial and urban change in late antiquity. At the heart of this palatial complex is the Mausoleum of Diocletian/Split Cathedral; a transformation which neatly encapsulates the transition from imperial residence to late antique and medieval town. Emerging from work undertaken by the Central Dalmatian Archaeological Project in 2009, this chapter will demonstrate how 3D spatial models can be integrated with subsurface exploration technologies in order to better understand the relationships between standing and subsurface remains at Split through the production of a 3D model. It will then use the integrated results from the 3D laser scanning of the Mausoleum and its surroundings and GPR in the Peristyle of the Palace to make suggestions about the nature of that space and how it might have changed over time.
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ABSTRACT
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... coil. The measurements are represented as scaled dots and as shaded Voronoi cells. Basemap from 1 st edition Ordnance Survey data. Page 15. 15 Figure 3: Fluxgate gradiometer data from Ramagrama, Nepal. The outlines ...
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The Palace of Diocletian, now the old town of Split, is one of the most important structures for the study of late Roman palaces, imperial ceremonial and urban change in late antiquity. At the heart of this palatial complex is the... more
The Palace of Diocletian, now the old town of Split, is one of the most important structures for the study of late Roman palaces, imperial ceremonial and urban change in late antiquity. At the heart of this palatial complex is the Mausoleum of Diocletian/Split Cathedral; a transformation which neatly encapsulates the transition from imperial residence to late antique and medieval town. Emerging from work undertaken by the Central Dalmatian Archaeological Project in 2009, this chapter will demonstrate how 3D spatial models can be integrated with subsurface exploration technologies in order to better understand the relationships between standing and subsurface remains at Split through the production of a 3D model. It will then use the integrated results from the 3D laser scanning of the Mausoleum and its surroundings and GPR in the Peristyle of the Palace to make suggestions about the nature of that space and how it might have changed over time.
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... 1227 Optical dating of Holocene alluvial sediments from the Qazvin plain, central Iran: Implications for the palaeo-environment of Iran Morteza Fattahia,bc,*, Mark Quigley d, Armin Schmidt e, Reza Sohbatia and Ghasem Azizi f a ...
Geophysical surveys are a standard method of site assessment. However very few are used specifically to evaluate structures associated with metallurgical activity. Routine geophysical surveys frequently encounter ironworking activity but... more
Geophysical surveys are a standard method of site assessment. However very few are used specifically to evaluate structures associated with metallurgical activity. Routine geophysical surveys frequently encounter ironworking activity but this data is usually ignored as it tends to be excessively 'noisy' and difficult to interpret. A combination of geophysical surveying techniques were applied to three iron-smelting sites in North Yorkshire to investigate the effectiveness of geophysics in identifying iron-working activity.
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ABSTRACT