Geophysical investigations at Agadere Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsular, NW Turkey

Abstract

Historical cemeteries are challenging targets for geophysical prospection but some non-destructive imaging techniques may be successful for mapping buried cemeteries if applied appropriately. Ground-Penetrating-Radar (GPR) has generally been considered to be the only geophysical method for determining cemeteries; however, Electrical-Resistivity-Tomography (ERT) and Magnetic-Imaging (MI), may determine geophysical traces of such cemeteries. Thus, as a first attempt at applying geophysical methods in the cemetery area of the Gallipoli Peninsula, these techniques were used to explore the buried graves at Agadere Cemetery. In this study, measured apparent resistivity data were processed using a two-dimensional (2D) tomographic inversion scheme. Resultant resistivity depth slices and volumetric resistivity images clearly showed the anomaly zone, which may be attributed to anthropogenic burials. Additionally, three-dimensional (3D) visualization of GPR results indicated some anomalies, much like the resistivity anomalies in terms of location. MI data were processed using linear transformations and an analytic signal image map presented anomaly zones located in some parts of the area, which are in agreement with those obtained by ERT and GPR surveys. Results derived from data processing techniques showed that these methods are suitable for bordering the locations of other buried historical graves in areas that have the same geological environment in the Peninsula.