Electrical Resistivity Tomography Investigations of Multilayered Archaeological Settlements: Part II – A Case from Old Smyrna Höyük, Turkey

Abstract

To determine the data acquisition and inversion capabilities of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), which is used in multilayered archaeological settlements, an ERT survey was carried out at the Old Smyrna Höyük site, in the city of İzmir, Turkey. This site dates from the third millennium BC and ERT applications were performed using five different arrays (Wenner-alpha, Wenner-Schlumberger, dipole-dipole, pole-pole and pole-dipole). The resistivity distribution of the subsurface was investigated by two-dimensional and three-dimensional inversion routines, which use data obtained along orthogonal lines. To test the inversion treatments, 'semi-fully three-dimensional' and 'quasi-threedimensional' approaches were also investigated, and comparison indicated a clear distinction between them. The results show that the quasi-three-dimensional solution had insufficient resolution, whereas the semi-fully threedimensional data sets provide interpretable images of the subsurface. In addition, the effects of electrode array type and line interval and orientation were tested to define suitable ERT survey strategies for multilayered archaeological settlements. The array investigations show that dipole-dipole, pole-pole and pole-dipole arrays presented better quality images than the others. The line orientation tests performed in two perpendicular directions (N-S and E-W oriented lines) show that the N-S oriented lines are more suitable in terms of defining the buried architectural plan of Old Smyrna Höyük according to depth-slicing visualizations. However, the combination of the two perpendicular data sets could be useful if large between-line intervals are used. Finally, this ERT study clearly revealed the layered stratigraphy of Old Smyrna Höyük.

Electrical Resistivity Tomography Investigations of MultiLayered Archaeological Settlements: Part I – Modelling

“…Thus, we can obtain true models of the subsurface in two and/or three dimensions. Today, the application of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in archaeological investigations has become an important tool (Noel and Xu, ; Griffiths and Barker, ; Aspinall and Gaffney, ; Drahor et al , ; Papadopoulos et al , ; Tsokas et al , ; Berge and Drahor, in press).…”

Automated Resistivity Profiling (ARP) to Explore Wide Archaeological Areas: The Prehistoric Site of Mont’e Prama, Sardinia, Italy

“…Each measurement is related to a specific distance between current and potential electrodes. Loops of electrodes with various geometries are used to perform tri-dimensional electrical resistivity tomographies in order to obtain a 3D model of the investigated medium [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34].…”

Use of Remote Sensing, Geophysical Techniques and Archaeological Excavations to Define the Roman Amphitheater of Torreparedones (Córdoba, Spain)

“…In addition, these methods can indicate the best location for future excavations, in order to understand the archaeological framework and establish preservation measures. Magnetic gradiometer [17,18], electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) [19,20], and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) [21,22] methods were used to define the geometry and determine, to the greatest possible extent, the degree of preservation of this structure. Although imaging technology is increasingly being used to identify buried archaeological remains, one of the drawbacks of this non-destructive approach is the lower resolution of the images compared to excavations [23,24].…”