Resistivity and Radar surveys at the Archaeological site of Ercolano

Abstract

In this paper we describe the application of GPR and resistivity (dipole-dipole) methods to an archeological investigation. The aim of this study was to obtain information about buried pre-Roman structures below the Roman residence “Casa dell’Atrio a Mosaico,” in the ancient town of Ercolano (Naples). A number of resistivity (dipole-dipole) and GPR profiles were carried out on the mosaic floor of the house. To perform resistivity profiles in a nondestructive way on the mosaic floor, special flat-base copper electrodes were used. The electrode spacing used was [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. GPR data were collected using [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] antennas. The radar profiles were carried out primarily along the electrical profiles in order to obtain a direct comparison between the two methods. Both resistivity and GPR methods evidenced a number of structures buried at shallow depths. Both methods located a structure identified as a conductive body with electric parameters strongly contrasting those of the surrounding material. The archaeological interpretation of such structures is in terms of remnants of walls of pre-Roman houses and of a cistern used for collecting rain, connected to a pipe.

Integrated geophysical methods for the characterisation of an archaeological site (Massenzio Basilica — Roman forum, Rome, Italy)

“…In archaeological prospection, in the past years, several geophysical methods have been successfully applied to detection and mapping of buried structures and foundations evaluating their main geometric and geophysical parameters monitoring the restoration activity and characterising the soil foundation (Senos Mattias and Almeida, 1992;Goodman et al, 1995;Tsokas et al, 1995;Cardarelli, 1995;Savvaidis et al, 1999;Cardarelli and De Nardis, 2001;Carrara et al, 2001;Cardarelli, 2002;Louis et al, 2002). The development of the software and new acquisition devices made geophysical methods significantly less costly than excavations and now can be used effectively in sites where excavations are difficult to perform.…”

“…Firstly, borehole studies were performed for investigating the geological character of the hill, the results were successively extrapolated using integrated geophysical investigations involving VES, seismic refraction and ERT; Electrical resistivity techniques are widely applied in archaeological prospection as the rapidly collected data yield a precise image of the subsoil, seismic refraction is rarely used in archaeological prospection but can provide useful information about the geology of the site under investigation (Karastathis et al, 2001;Carrara et al, 2001;Drahor 2006;Tsokas et al, 2008). The complete layout of the initial investigations is shown in Fig.…”

Integrated geophysical surveys for the subsurface mapping of buried structures under and surrounding of the Agios Voukolos Church in İzmir, Turkey

“…Non-invasive ERT uses "inserted metal" and/or "flat-base" electrodes that conduct the electricity using special copper and similar electrodes. The flat-base technique is novel and fully non-destructive because it does not require the insertion of metal electrodes (Carrara et al, 2001;Cosentino and Martorana, 2001;Athanasiou et al, 2007;Tsokas et al, 2008). Due to its high cost, time-consuming nature, and difficult implementation the 3D application of this technique is not yet routinely used indoors.…”

Non‐destructive electrical resistivity tomography for indoor investigation: the case of Kapnikarea Church in Athens

“…fully non-destructive). Application of this approach of copper flat base electrodes was reported by Carrara et al (2001) who investigated the mosaic floor of a Roman villa. Also, Cosentino and Martorana (2001) performed non-destructive geoelectrical measurements to investigate the damaged layer of walls.…”