Multimethod Geophysical Survey at the Iron Age Iberian Site of El Molí d'Espígol (Tornabous, Lleida, Catalonia): Exploring Urban Mesh Patterns Using Geophysics

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a multisystem survey using magnetometry and dual frequency ground-penetrating radar (GPR) carried out at the Iron Age Iberian site of El Molí d'Espígol, Tornabous, Catalonia, dated from the seventh to third centuries bce. The surroundings of the current urban area were explored with magnetometry in order to describe possible features related to the settlement. In the non-excavated part of the urban area was surveyed by GPR in order to describe the urban mesh. The interpretation of the data has allowed not only the identification of new areas of archaeological interest and priority action, but also the proposal of a new hypotheses on the evolution of the town planning and the defensive system of the site.

Geophysical survey of the Iberian site (seventh–third centuries bc) of Masies de Sant Miquel (Catalonia, Spain). Interpretative challenges of geophysical data of an Iberian town

“…On the western side of the surveyed area, two different features (Group A, Groups 21–23) were identified as possible parts of a defensive system matching the limits of the higher plateau. Given the lack of a wider survey context, we have doubts about the precise nature of such features, as recent research has proven that Iberian defensive systems could be quite complex (Codina & De Prado, ; Sala et al, ). Group A was defined in the north‐western area of the survey by a fringe of low reflectance delimited by two linear, parallel anomalies identified as walls.…”

“…A group of universities and research institutions have led the formation of that corpus and there has also been a remarkable commitment on the part of several private contractors in publishing their research studies (e.g. Benech, ; Dalan & Bevan, ; De Smedt et al, ; Fassbinder, ; Gaffney, Gater, Linford, Gaffney, & White, ; Linford, ; Linford & Canti, ; Meyer, Ullrich, & Barlieb, ; Neal, ; Neubauer & Eder‐Hinterleitner, ; Neubauer, Eder‐Hinterleitner, Seren, & Melichar, ; Nishimura & Goodman, ; Piro, Mauriello, & Cammarano, ; Sala, Principal, Olmos, Tamba, & García, ; Schneidhofer et al, ; Trinks et al, ; Vermeulen, Corsi, & De Dapper, ).…”

“…For example, Iberian settlements on the Lleida plains, such as Molí d'Espígol, were built using local marlstone in a clayey context. In magnetic terms this results in a low contrast between sediments and wall foundations or a poor depth range in GPR surveys (Sala et al, ). Fortunately, anthropogenic activity, as well as several specific archaeological features, such as floors, kilns, ditches or storage pits, tends to enhance the magnetic contrast.…”

Rituales con restos humanos en ámbito ilergete: reflexiones a partir de las evidencias de El Molí d’Espígol (Tornabous, Lérida)

“…El sitio alcanza su momento de máximo esplendor en el período Ibérico Pleno. Se remodela y amplía otra vez mediante un nuevo y sofisticado perímetro defensivo (MUR-3) con un foso asociado, la monumentalización de accesos, un urbanismo complejo, unos espacios de uso colectivo bien delimitados, infraestructuras urbanas, barrios suburbanos manufactureros y espacios de almacenaje (Principal et al 2012;Sala et al 2013;Principal et al 2019: 214-220). El final de esta fase se dataría en torno al 200 a. n. e.…”

Use of Integrated Geophysical Methods to Investigate a Coastal Archaeological Site: the Sant'Imbenia Roman Villa (Northern Sardinia, Italy)

“…In fact, moisture is the most important influence on the degree of attenuation of radar waves (Rogers et al ., ). To reduce the level of uncertainty in the interpretation of GPR anomalies and to increase the reliability of the identification on buried targets, an integrated interpretation (Sala et al ., ) is sometimes made by using other geophysical methods such as electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys (Negri et al ., ).…”