FIXED-FREQUENCY RADIO-WAVE IMAGING OF SUBSURFACE ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURES: A MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNIQUE FOR STUDYING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES*

Authors: L. SOMERS¹; N. LINFORD²; W. PENN³; A. DAVID²; L. URRY⁴; R. WALKER⁵

Source: Archaeometry, Volume 47, Number 1, February 2005 , pp. 159-173(15)

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Abstract:

In memoriam Tony Clark

Sadly, this research marked the last field visit to the test site that the authors were able to share with their colleague Tony Clark. His enthusiasm, experience and encouragement inspired us to complete this project that, to many, must have appeared as grown men at play in a sand pit.

A new approach to subsurface exploration has been developed, based on fixed-frequency radio-wave illumination from a buried transmitter. Data are collected from a buried, continuous wave source with a phase-coherent surface-scanning receiver and recorded in a digital archive from which images of the archaeological features are subsequently produced. An important feature of this approach is the opportunity to separate the data collection and archive functions, which form an uncompromised record of the site, from the more subjective image formation function. This paper reports the results of a feasibility assessment programme and discusses the future application of the method to real archaeological sites.

Keywords: RAYLEIGH–SOMMERFELD; PHASE COHERENCE; IMAGING; ARCHAEOLOGY; GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4754.2005.00194.x

Affiliations: 1: Geoscan Research—USA, Sea Ranch, California, USA 2: Archaeometry Branch, English Heritage Centre for Archaeology, Fort Cumberland, Eastney, Portsmouth PO4 9LD, UK 3: Department of Electrical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244–1240, USA 4: Department of Radio Astronomy, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720–3411, USA 5: Geoscan Research, Heather Brae, Chrisharben Park, Clayton BD14 6AE, UK

Publication date: 2005-02-01

FIXED-FREQUENCY RADIO-WAVE IMAGING OF SUBSURFACE ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURES: A MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNIQUE FOR STUDYING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES*

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