Integration of Ground Penetrating Radar and Electrical Resistivity Methods to Investigate Subsurface Features at Kish Archaeological site, Babylon, Iraq

Abstract

Several geophysical techniques, including magnetic, Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI), and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), have been used to investigate archaeological features because they are non-destructive and inexpensive compared to traditional methods such as excavation. GPR has been used in the Governorate of Babylon, Kish archeological site to investigate the subsurface ancient features.The GPR survey carried out on three parallel profiles. The length of each profile is 29 m and the spacing between each adjacent profile is 15 meters. The antennas 450 MHz and 750 MHz were used. The data was processed using GPR SliceV7 software. The GPR profiles indicate the presence of buried features, which may be an ancient wall. The wall is buried at a depth range between 0.5 and 3 m. Outside the study area, some part of the wall is visible on the surface. Three Electrical resistivity image (ERI) profiles (1, 2 and 3) were carried out by using wenner array to check the main features detected by GPR method. The ERI results are confirmed the GPR profiles (1, 2, and 3). Both methods indicate the existence of an ancient wall trending NW-SE. The thickness of the wall is approximately 3m and is located at distance 7.5-10.5 meters at profile 1 in the south and at distance 10-13 m in profiles 2 and 3. The depth of the wall ranges from 3–3.5 m. Another deep wall was also detected in the GPR profile 1 and in the three profiles of ERI method. The current work confirmed the importance of using ERI method with GPR method to investigate shallow subsurface features.