The use of ground-penetrating radar in archaeology

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the usage of ground-penetrating radar mapping method in archaeology. Ground-penetrating radar is a geophysical method that can accurately map buried archaeological features in three-dimensions. Data are collected when radar waves are transmitted from a surface antenna into the ground, and reflected off buried archaeological features and stratigraphic horizons. The reflected waves are recorded back at the surface and the transmission time is measured that can be converted to depth in the ground. In today's climate of rescue archaeology, cultural resource management, and the prevalent ethic of site conservation, non-invasive methods of subsurface exploration and mapping are becoming increasingly important. New computer enhanced geophysical methods, including ground-penetrating radar, are being developed for site identification, mapping and analysis, which can non-invasively gather massive amounts of data from buried sites without having to dig. Archaeologists who are only familiar with the traditional methods of gathering data by the shovel and trowel method are being increasingly marginalized in this changing environment. It concludes that ground-penetrating radar surveys can also be of tremendous value for the rapid, nondestructive determination of the number, character and orientation of subsurface features at archaeological sites. The GPR mapping method can be used to produce maps that are a far more complete picture of a site than is possible using excavation alone.