Integrated Geophysical Techniques for Archaeological Remains: Real Cases and Full Scale Laboratory Example

The increasing interest in preserving of archaeological sites requires the integration of a wide spectrum of geophysical methodologies for field measurements. In fact, archaeological investigations need multidisciplinary studies to characterize the physical properties of near-surface. In this context, the integration of electromagnetic techniques seems to be one of the most suitable tools. The most suitable geophysical investigation techniques employed for archaeological purposes are the geomagnetic, GPR and resistivity/conductivity (DC and EM) methods. These techniques are not invasive and allow us to obtain high-resolution images of the subsurface, even if their use is dependent on site and resolution. In general, the geomagnetic and EM are more adaptive for large surveys, in order to obtain fast results with low resolution. On the contrary, GPR shows high-resolution information, but the heavy data process is adapted for small survey areas. The DC methods are not common then the previous ones, but their contribution is important above all in urban area. Anyway, the integration of different geophysical techniques is the best way for field measurements to identify the remains, because each geophysical technique has the ability to define a physical parameter (electrical conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, dielectric) which is able to highlight some patterns of the buried object. This kind of approach was applied in several archaeological sites. Moreover, the geophysical contrast between archaeological features and surrounding soils sometimes are difficult to define due to problems of sensitivity and resolution both related to the characteristic of the subsoil and the geophysical methods. The results obtained in real and laboratory study cases based on the archaeogeophysical approach are here discussed.