An introduction to this special section: Archaeology

Abstract

For the average geophysicist strolling the streets of Houston, the mention of archaeology more than likely conjures up images of that pistol-and-whip-packing adventure hero Indiana Jones. After a moment to ponder, most in our geophysicist sample set roust up cloudy memories of documentary or news stories where geophysics was mentioned as a tool supporting the recovery of buried antiquities or discovery of long-sealed burial vaults. No doubt the allure and mystery associated with many modern archaeological digs or expeditions comes almost exclusively from the find—the discovery, the story—relegating applied geophysics (many times the real unsung hero) to second billing or footnotes.