Advances in Archaeological Prospection: Non-destructive Investigations (Albia, Iowa)

This workshop is designed to provide a practical application of geophysical equipment and aerial photographic techniques available for the identification, evaluation, and ultimately, the conservation and protection of cultural resources. The field exercises associated with the course will concentrate on the application of these techniques to archeological investigations. Instruction will be given in the use, processing, and interpretation of data from magnetometers, conductivity meters, resistivity meters, ground penetrating radar, metal detectors, and magnetic susceptibility instruments and their applications to non-destructive subsurface investigations. The major emphasis of the training will be on the field use of the equipment. Instruction will also be offered in the use of and interpretation of aerial photographic techniques, and in the use of low altitude large scale aerial reconnaissance.

Geophysical techniques provide a means of non-destructive investigations for archeological surveys. These techniques utilize physical principles to study the earth through indirect interpretation of the earth's physical properties. Geophysicists interpret the Earth's physical characteristics using physical, electrical, and/or chemical measurements. Active geophysical techniques are based on responses from an induced signal used to detect contracts in different material properties. Such techniques include electromagnetics (EM), ground penetrating radar (GPR), metal detectors, electrical resistivity, and seismic. Passive techniques are based on responses from the natural conditions. These techniques include magnetics, gravity, and self potential (SP). The course will provide an opportunity to learn about non-destructive geophysical techniques for archeological investigations including advantages and disadvantages of such techniques.

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