Magnetic and electrical resistivity tomography investigations in a Roman legionary camp site (Legio IV Scythica) in Zeugma, Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract

Magnetic and electricalresistivity tomography (ERT) surveys were carried out in the area of a Roman militaryinstallationlocatednear the Zeugma archaeologicalsitein southeasternTurkey.Magneticgradiometer surveys were performed in the northern part of this area and covered 8.52 ha; measurements were obtained using a FM-36 fluxgate gradiometer on a 0.5 Â1m grid. The visualized data revealed the general orientation of the Roman military settlement, which appeared as regular structures in the magnetic images.In addition, ERTsurveys were performed in some areas that had shown regular magnetic anomalies. Resistivity data were interpreted using the robust inversion algorithm in two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms. Resistivity tomography studies showed that the archaeological structures lay close to the surface. There was considerable agreement between the results of the magnetic and ERTsurvey methods. Trial trenches were excavated in promising areas to test the geophysical results. A range of distinctive elements of military settlement, such as walls, pipes, roads, foundations and also metallic objects (a large assemblage of Roman military helmets and armour) were discovered during the excavations.

Magnetic survey in the investigation of sociopolitical change at a Late Bronze age fortress settlement in northwestern Armenia

“…Magnetic surveys within diverse archaeological contexts conducted using carefully controlled transects can record these anomalies in space for display, analysis and relocation using software packages such as ArcGIS and Surfer (e.g. Kvamme, 2003Kvamme, , 2008Drahor et al, 2008;Hinz et al, 2008;O'Rourke and Gibson, 2009). Ideally, data sets are also collected using other techniques commonly applied in geophysical archaeology, including ground-penetrating radar, electrical resistivity and electromagnetic induction (Gaffney and Gator, 2003).…”

3D electrical resistivity tomography technique for the investigation of a construction and demolition waste landfill site

“…For this reasons this approach for 3D geoelectrical surveying is widespread in geophysical practice (Negri et al, 2008;Drahor et al, 2008;Aizebeokhai et al, 2010). In particular this 3D approach has been used into mapping the structure of different waste disposal sites (Dahlin et al, 2002;Chambers et al, 2006Chambers et al, , 2012Soupios et al, 2007b).…”

Investigation of structures in the Alabanda Bouleuterion by electrical resistivity method

“…Because the target structures of archeological prospections have sharp edges or boundaries, usually in these studies, the robust technique is used. (Drahor et al 2008;De Domenico et al 2006).…”

“…Electrical resistivity method is frequently used in studies that the image or map of underground in the archeological sites obtained via electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) (Drahor et al 2008;Negri et al 2008;Papadopoulos et al 2012;Diamanti et al 2013). The method is quite suitable for the determination of the walls, cavities, and illumination of other structures in archeological areas.…”