Seeing beneath the soil: geophysical survey for archaeology

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• current best practice in archaeological fieldwork.
• Ability to produce final survey plots and written interpretation to publication standard.
• the basic theoretical concepts of geophysical survey techniques, and how these theories are applied practically in the field.
• Ability to use specific types of geophysical survey equipment, and understand their application and limitations in the field.
• Ability to use relevant computer software to process and publish survey results to publication standard.
• Ability to recognise sites and monuments, their relationship to one another and their landscape context.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Be able to interpret the archaeological significance of anomalies located in your survey results
• Use tapes or a total station to grid out a survey area
• Use key geophysical survey equipment in an archaeological context
• Be capable of assessing the most appropriate method for survey of a site

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Undertake geophysical surveys using Resistivity, Magnetometry, Ground Penetrating Radar and magnetic susceptibility methods
• Process and produce images of geophysical survey results
• Produce archaeological interpretations of data, and write full reports on the findings of geophysical surveys
• Place your results within the context of map data using computer applications

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Produce a final report on a survey, together with recommendations for future assessment based on valued reasoning from the results of your work and your background knowledge of the techniques used and their implications
• Understand the basic theoretical and practical elements of geophysical survey in archaeology
• Assess the nature and extent of particular sites or monuments within their landscape context, and calculate the most suitable survey method to discover more about the nature, dimensions and structure of a site

The module is designed as an introduction to methods and practice of archaeological prospection, and aspects of field survey data processing and publication. You will learn the fundamental theory and methods of archaeological geophysics and be involved at a practical level with techniques of magnetometry, resistivity, Ground Penetrating Radar and magnetic susceptibility surveying. In addition you will be trained in use of a total station. The module will also include practical aspects of data downloading, processing and publication.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• Lectures
• Field survey practicals
• Computer practicals
• Tutorials where necessary

Learning activities include

• Practical sessions during lectures
• A one week intensive field survey during the Easter break
• Computer practicals and tutorials using specialist geophysics software

Innovative or special features of this module

 Dedicated geophysics software for the module on workstations

Resources & Reading list

Journal Articles

Gaffney, C. and Gater, J. (1993). Development of Remote Sensing Part II: Practice and method in the application of geophysical techniques in archaeology. Archaeological Resource Management in the U.K..

Spoerry, P. (1992). The Archaeologist and Geoprospection. Archaeological Landscape, 18, pp. 115-119.

Schurr, M. R. (1997). Using the Concept of the Learning Curve to Increase the Productivity of Geophysical Surveys. Archaeological Prospection, 4, pp. 69-83.

Clark, A. J. (1986). Archaeological Geophysics in Britain. Geophysics, 51(7), pp. 1404-1413.

Textbooks

Bowden, M. (Ed.) (1999). Unravelling the Landscape.. Stroud: Tempus.

David, A (1995). Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation. English Heritage Research and Professional Services Guidelines 1.

Gaffney, C. and Gater, J. (2003). Revealing the Buried Past: Geophysics for Archaeologists. Stroud: Tempus.

Scollar, Tabbagh, Hesse, and Herzog (1990). Archaeological Prospecting and Remote Sensing. Cambridge: Cambridge University.

Telford, W. M. (1990). Applied Geophysics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Gaffney, C., Gater, J., Ovenden, S. (1991). The Use of Geophysical Survey Techniques in Archaeological Evaluations. Institute of Field Archaeologists.

Clark, A. (1990). Seeing Beneath the Soil. London: Batsford.

Assessment strategy

Assessments designed to provide informal, on-module feedback

 Monitoring and feedback on work produced during lectures and practicals

 Tuition, assessment and feedback on elements of practical survey during field week

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External