Abstract
The submitted paper presents the possibilities of specific use of a simple geophysical method in the conditions of an ongoing archaeological excavation. It demonstrates an effective (i.e., quick, inexpensive, and beneficial) method that greatly enhances the knowledge gained from archaeological context analysis and thus contributes to a more accurate interpretation of the excavated portion of the historic strata. For example, field measurements of magnetic susceptibility can help to correctly interpret the genesis of individual layers, to distinguish individual phases in a visually indistinguishable stratum, or to indicate layers (and stone walls) that have undergone heating, etc. A detailed geophysical measurement of magnetic susceptibility was carried out on a section with archaeologically excavated relics of fortifications on the outskirts of the early medieval Mikulčice – Valy hillfort and the results were then critically confronted with the archaeological interpretation. This mutual multidisciplinary approach is also methodologically significant. Geophysics reveals certain information that is invisible to the archaeologist's eye, and may provide important clues to the correct interpretation of the archaeological context. Archaeological research, in turn, provides more precise information on the reasons and possible source of changes in magnetic susceptibility values of different layers and materials. Keywords: Fortification; Magnetic susceptibility; Mikulčice.
Highlights
Magnetic volume susceptibility is a mathematically appropriate expression of the relative permeability of the medium
The magnetic susceptibility values of sediments are primarily dependent on the content and conce ntration of magnetic minerals as well as their size
[3] In addition to the influence of former microbiological activity at the surface of the cultural layers, there is a huge increase in the magnetic susceptibility values due to ancient fires
Summary
Magnetic volume susceptibility is a mathematically appropriate expression of the relative permeability of the medium It is denoted by the Greek letter kappa and indicates the ability of matter to induce a magnetic field in itself at an externally applied magnetic intensity. [9] In building history research, the authors of the paper employed the method of field measurement of magnetic susceptibility to quickly and clearly distinguish between stone and brick walls under a thick layer of plaster (cf [10]) and it was used to determine the building material (stone) of different provenance for the construction of the tower of the city castle in Tábor in 2012 [11] Thanks to magnetic susceptibility measurements in large-scale excavations of prehistoric settlements (Tábor – Tesco, Tábor – Komora, construction of the D3 highway), cultural layers were clearly distinguished from the geological subsoil, which showed identical visual characteristics. [6,7,8] Documenting a large area research in Ústí nad Labem, the authors of this paper managed to distinguish individual historical horizons within a 1 m thick and visually and structurally uniform stratum using the given method. [9] In building history research, the authors of the paper employed the method of field measurement of magnetic susceptibility to quickly and clearly distinguish between stone and brick walls under a thick layer of plaster (cf. [10]) and it was used to determine the building material (stone) of different provenance for the construction of the tower of the city castle in Tábor in 2012 [11]
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