Ground Penetrating Radar Advances in Subsurface Imaging for Archaeology

Abstract

Advances in imaging software for Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) have greatly enhanced the utility of this geophysical remote sensing tool for archaeological discovery. Time-slice analysis, isosurface rendering, and “overlay analysis” are among several image analyses used to identify subsurface archaeological remains. Static corrections, in which the tilt of the transmitting antenna is accounted for over areas with significant topography, are presented here for the first time. GPR-GPS surveying to facilitate and automate remote sensing, are presented as a method for accurate identification of unmarked grave sites. An example of the use of GPR imaging in surveying ancient Roman sites and the application of GPR to help guide the stabilization and restoration of the second oldest church in the New World, are presented. GPR imaging is also summarized in several case histories involving detection of burials and other structures at Japanese, Byzantine, and Native American sites.