Display of archaeological magnetic data

Abstract

Magnetic data from archaeological sites have traditionally been displayed by contour, isometric, and dotdensity plotting, or by simulated gray-scale techniques using symbol overprinting. These methods do not show fine linear structures in the data which are of great interest to archaeologists. If true gray-scale methods using a modern video display, followed by film recording for hard copy are employed, image processing techniques can be applied to enhance the geometric structures of archaeological interest. Interpolation techniques for enlarging data to full screen size, along with compression methods to keep data within gray-scale capabilities, are needed. Such techniques would introduce minimum distortion and allow faint details to be seen in the vicinity of strong anomalies. Postprocessing methods based on rapid image spatial filtering and enhancement algorithms could then be applied in an interactive environment.

3D Inversion of Automated Resistivity Profiling (ARP) Data

“…Nowadays, it is routinely used in mapping the sub-surface resistivity variation of an archaeological site. Th e compilation of maps that transform the geophysical results into images that resemble a plane view of buried relics comprises the ultimate goal of geoelectrical prospection in archaeological areas (Scollar et al, 1986).…”

Georadar in the Roman civil town Carnuntum, Austria: an approach for archaeological interpretation of GPR data

“…Only surveying with the highest resolution measuring devices in small raster (Ä0.5 m) is the guarantee for detecting even smallest structures of archaeological visualize comprehensive representations of the data for subsequent archaeological interpretation. Digital image representations proved to be the most suitable for visualization of magnetic and resistivity data, enabling cognitive perception of archaeological structures even by lay people (Becker, 1985;Scollar et al, 1986;Neubauer 1990;Neubauer et al, 1996;Neubauer, 2001a). As can be shown by comparative studies, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) responds to similar physical properties of the near surface as resistivity mapping does and thus is able to locate the same groups of archaeological structures but with far more detail and with a higher accuracy in the same measuring time (Table 1).…”

Geophysical methods employed in urban archaeology prospecting: the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Patzcuaro, México

“…Hay que señalar que los métodos geofísicos no destruyen el contexto histórico (Scollar 1986) y se ha mostrado su utilidad en la definición y caracterización en sitios de interés arqueológico Chávez et al 1995). En zonas urbanas, que poseen un contexto arqueológico, generalmente es imposible llevar a cabo una excavación; la realización de estudios geofísicos permite cartografiar esta riqueza arqueológica y así conocer y proteger el Patrimonio Arqueológico ante futuros cambios urbanísticos.…”

“…El resultado del estudio puso en evidencia la presencia de estructuras arqueológicas en el subsuelo de la Gran Sala de la Sinagoga (Museo Sefardi, Ministerio de Cultura de España 1995). También existen estudios sobre localización de murallas romanas en algunas ciudades europeas utilizando distintos métodos de prospección (Scollar 1986;Hernández et al 1988).…”