Herculaneum – Geophysics

In January 2009 Southampton University’s Archaeological Prospection Services and the British School at Rome began applying an innovative combination of geophysical techniques at Herculaneum.

They are using a variety of techniques including Resistance Tomography and Ground Penetrating Radar which when integrated produce a complex 3D view of the buried remains at different depths. 

These geophysical techniques are starting to shed light on the Basilica in which the Amazon Statue may have been displayed 2000 years ago – a building still buried beneath 10m of volcanic ash. Soon the international team hopes to restore the virtual Amazon to a virtual Basilica, all whilst preserving for the future what is one of the most important and fragile of the world’s archaeological sites.