Links to related websites

National Databases or Regional Libraries of Archaeological Geophysical Results

The Archaeological Remote Sensing Geophysics Image Library. (USA)--The geophysical imagery in this library is derived from archaeological projects conducted by Professor Kenneth L. Kvamme. These projects have utilized ground penetrating radar, proton magnetometry, fluxgate gradiometry, electricalresistivity, and electromagnetic conductivity methods.

Magnetically Prospected Sites in Austria. (AUSTRIA)--This site contains roughly two dozen magnetically prospected sites in Austria, organized by time period.

Geophysical Prospection of Archaeological Sites by Example. (GERMANY)--This site catalogs the work of Harald von der Osten-Woldenburg, who has worked throughout Europe using GPR, Electromagnetic Induction, Geomagnetics, and Geoelectronics. His many images are organized by methodology.

Geophysics in Archaeology A Scrapbook of Worldwide Data. (JAPAN)--A showcase for geophysical data from Japan, Europe, South and Middle America, and China. Files are in downloadable PDF format.

Nondestructive investigation of archaeological sites. (ITALY)--All the maps shown here are representative of geomagnetic, geoelectronic, and RADAR surveys carried out by Archaeosurvey.

The English Heritage Geophysical Survey Database. (UNITED KINGDOM)--This extensive database is an on-line index of the archaeological geophysical surveys undertaken by Archaeometry Branch of the Ancient Monuments Laboratory as well as details of geophysical surveys, undertaken by anyone, over scheduled ancient monuments.

Archaeological Geophysics Resource Sites

Adventures in Geophysics. A less formal site on the uses of geophysics, but fun and educational all the same.

Archaeological Prospection Resources. Department of Archaeological Sciences, Bradford (UNITED KINGDOM)--The European counterpart of NADAG, extensively covering the field of archaeological prospection.

(USA)-An overview of geophysical methods, survey and site examples.

ACS-Archaeological Consultancy Services, (Ireland)- Archaeological surveying service that uses geophysical surveying methods such as magnetometry, GPR, resistivity, and metal detecting. Web page shows examples and graphics for various instruments.

ASPRS. Imaging & Geospatial Infromation Society. Society for the advancement of knowledge on remote sensing, GIS, photogrammetry, and similar technologies.

Battlefield Archaeology. (USA) Doug Scott, battlefield archaeology pioneer, discusses techniques used to sample and study historic battlefields.

The Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics Applied Geophysics Page. (AUSTRIA) This site describes various geophysical techniques. The GPR page includes animations!

Conductivity (EM) Survey: A Survival Manual. (R. Berle Clay, Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc, Kentucky)

Geophysical Data in Archaeology: A Guide to Good Practice. (Archaeology Data Service, UNITED KINGDOM) A guide to digital preservation of geophysics data by Armin Schmidt with contributions from Tony Austin, Andrew David, Kate Fernie, William Kilbride, Paul Linford, Julian Richards, and Damian Robinson. Also provides a good history of archaeological geophysics and guidelines for documenting a geophysical survey.

Geophysical Techniques. (UNITED KINGDOM) This site describes the advantages of various geophysical techniques and provides examples of site types and conditions for which each technique is most suitable.

GPR Bibliography. (ITALY) An extensive bibliography of ground penetrating radar publications.

GPR in Archaeology. (USA) This site, by Larry Conyers of the University of Denver, describes the use of GPR in archaeology. It includes illustrated examples of successful GPR surveys and lists educational resources, such as reading material and a training course offered by the University of Denver and the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.

Historic Archaeological Research Links Page. (USA) Historic Archaeological Research, Indiana--Useful collection of Archaeological Research Resources, including some archaeological prospection links.

How Geophysical Methods Can Help The Archaeologist. (USA) By Lambert Dolphin formerly Senior Research Physicist SRI International, Menlo Park, California.

Metal Detection Reconnaissance. (USA) Excerpts of an unpublished manuscript by Rich Green, Historic Archaeological Research, Indiana.

Oxford Archaeotechnics. (UNITED KINGDOM) This site provides technique overviews and numerous (including some interactive!) examples of surveys using magnetic susceptibility, magnetic gradiometry, and topographic survey.

The Place of Geophysical Survey in Contemporary Fieldwork. (USA) By R. Berle Clay, Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., Lexington, Kentucky.

A Review of Geophysical Methods Used in Archaeology. (USA) By Jeffrey C. Wynn, Terraplus, Inc.

Magnetic Prospection in Archaeology. (GERMANY) By Helmut Becker (in German).

Sensors & Software GPR Surveys. (USA)--This site explains the uses of GPR in several arenas, including archaeology. Download the latest news in the geophysics community at In the News.

Get the latest Sensors & Software Newsletter here!

Technology in Archaeology. (USA) From Mankato State University's E-Museum, Mankato, Minnesota.

Time Team: Archaeological Geophysics on British TV! See GSB Prospection site. See Channel 4 TV (UK) site.

Working with the EM38 Conductivity Meter. Written by R. Berle Clay of Cultral Resource Analysts, Inc. Lexington, KY.

Free or Low Cost Geophysical Equipment & Software

Cheap resistivity meter offered by the Council for Independent Archaeology and TR Systems Ltd.

Free software for interpretation and display of geophysical data and for GPR modeling - developed by Jeff Daniels and students from Ohio State University.

Free Windows 95/NT program developed by the University of Notre Dame to download data from the Geoscan FM36 Gradiometer and RM15 Resistivity Meter.

Snuffler - Freeware geophysics software for resistivity data.

GPR-SLICE - Developed by Dean Goodman

Individual Projects

United States

Alabama

Investigating the Ivanhoe. Remote Sensing techniques are used to locate the Ivanhoe, a Civil War blockade runner sunk in Mobile Bay. (Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.)

Alaska

Remote Sensing in Alaska. Summarizes GPR and metal detector surveys conducted at the Dyea and Skagway town sites. The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training supported a field school for remote sensing techniques at these sites in the summer of 2000. (NCPTT)

Arizona

Fort Lowell, Arizona. Describes use of the Geometrics G-858 Cesium Gradiometer at this historic 19th century fort. (Geometrics, San Jose, California.)

Arkansas

Bozeman Cemetery. A magnetic gradiometry, electrical resistance, and GPR are used to reveal 19th century graves with startling clarity. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas.)

Mt Comfort Church. Geophysical survey of historic 19th century church using magnetometry, resistivity, and GPR. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas and Arkansas Archaeological Survey)

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. A magnetic gradiometry survey of this 1862 Civil War battlefield shows the density and pattern of iron artifacts, many of which are derived projectile shot by the 60+ canon that participated in this battle. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas.)

Rock House Cave (3CN20). Geophysical survey for placement of a tourist walkway in the cave. (Jami J. Lockhart and George Sabo III, Arkansas Archaeological Survey)

California

Mission San Antonio de Padau. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

Geophysical Survey at the Presidio of San Francisco. (Anna Naruta, University of California, Berkeley)

Pio Pico, Whittier, CA Presents the results of a GPR, magnetics, and EM survey at the site. (Larry Conyers, Denver University, Denver, Colorado)

Prehistoric Houses at CA-ORA-116. Results of geophysical surveys conducted at this Intermediate period midden and habitation site at Newport Bay, Orange County. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

Colorado

Albert Porter Preserve. An electrical resistance survey is used to reveal prehistoric features (Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, and Mona Charles, Fort Lewis College)

Black Mountain. A magnetic gradiometry at this Folsom camp reveals the locus of a drainage feature. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

The Shields Pueblo Research Project. Surface collections, test excavations, and targeted excavations of remote-sensing anomalies at Crow Canyon. (Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Cortez, Colorado)

Sieber Canyon. A magnetic gradiometry survey is used to reveal hearths at this hunter-gatherer camp. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Overland Park Stage Station. Magnetic gradiometry and electrical resistance surveys give details about this historic 1860s stage station on the Overland Trail. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Florida

One Miami Pre-Construction Archaeology GPR Survey Project. (Mnemotrix Systems, Inc., Coral Springs, Florida)

Hawaii

Geophysical Investigation for the Location of a Historic Heiau, Kawaihae, Hawaii. (US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Mississippi)

Idaho

Specialized GIS Applications for Necrogeography & Historical Solution-finding Lewiston Idaho (Steven Branting, Lewiston Idaho)

Illinois

Geophysics in Illinois Archaeology. A section of the Illinois Archaeological Survey devoted to the use of geophysical survey techniques in Illinois archaeology. (Michael L. Hargrave, CERL, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois)

Indiana

The Bennac Village. Mentions some geophysical techniques undertaken at Bennac, a former Potawatomi Village, during the 1999 field school at Notre Dame. (University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana)

The Clampitt Site. The Practical Application of Magnetic Surveys to Excavation Strategy: An Example from the Clampitt Site. (Stephen Ball, Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana)

Geophysics at the Angel Site: Past, Present, and Future. (Christopher S. Peebles, Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana)

The Pokagon Village. Details some geophysical techniques undertaken at Pokagon, a former Potawatomi Village, during the 1999 field school at Notre Dame. (University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana)

Iowa

Effigy Mounds National Monument. Magnetic gradiometry and electrical resistance surveys show details inside bear and bird effigy mounds. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Kansas

Army City, Fort Riley. Results of an electrical resistivity survey conducted over 22 hectares of this historic 19th and early 20th century military site. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Bird Creek site. Magnetic gradiometry at an Archaic through Woodland occupation. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Fort Riley Post. GPR survey of the oldest portion of the Post Cemetery. The SIR 2000 GPR unit was used to deliniate graves in the historic cemetery. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

3D Ranch. An electrical resistance survey shows the layout of an historic 1860s barn. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Sluss Cabin. An electrical resistance survey shows the layout of an historic 1870s cowboy cabin. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Kentucky

Daniel Boone's Station. A geophysical survey locates subsurface structure features prior to excavation. (Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., Lexington, Kentucky)

McConnell's Station. A geophysical survey locates subsurface structure features prior to excavation. (Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., Lexington, Kentucky)

The Widow Gibson Cabin. Geophysical survey pinpoints the location of the cabin prior to archaeological assessment of the structure. (Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., Lexington, Kentucky)

Massachusetts

Bunker Hill National Monument. Electrical resistance and GPR surveys show details about the Patriot's fortifications at this battlefield site. ( Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Geophysics of a standing structure at Truro. Presents results of a GPR survey on a standing structure. (Meg Watters, GSSI, North Salem, New Hampshire)

The Nathan and Polly Johnson House, New Bedford. This site gives extensive discussions of magnetometry, conductivity, and GPR survey from experiences gained at an early 19th century historic home. (Christina J. Hodge and Dr. Patrick Ryan Williams of Boston University Department of Archaeology)

Old South Cemetery. A GPR transect reveals the locus of several 17th century graves. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Royall House. An electrical resistance survey shows the layout of a 17-19th century garden associated with the historic Royall House. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Minnesota

The Red Wing Archaeological Preserve Site. Soil resistivity results of surface artifact density at a site in Minnesota. (Institute for Minnesota Archaeology, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Waraju Distillery. An electrical resistance survey shows the layout of an historic whiskey distillery, burned in New Ulm during the Dakota conflict of 1862. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Wuamett Farmstead. Electrical resistance and magnetic gradiometry surveys reveal many details, including possible privies and outbuildings, associated with this historic farmstead established in 1856. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Mississippi

The Hollywood Site. Use of geophysical survey in location and interpretation of house sites at a Mississippian town. (Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., Lexington, Kentucky)

The Hollywood Site. More data and ground truthing of the geophysical data by the University of Mississppi. (University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi)

The Parchman Place Mounds. The University of Mississippi Field School of 2002 sponsored by University of Mississippi Geoinformatics Center and Earth Science Applications Directorate at Stennis Space Center, NASA. The survey methods used were: satellite remote sensing, geophysical methods, and ground truthing.

Missouri

Iliniwek Village. A ground penetrating radar (GPR) investigation over portions of the Iliniwek Village site in Northeastern Missouri. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Montana

Malodorous. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Analysis of the Battle of the Little Big Horn with a Metal Detector. Discusses the use of metal detectors to better understand the battle site where George Armstrong Custer fell while fighting a coalition of Plains Indian tribes. (Midwest Archeological Center, Lincoln, Nebraska)

New Mexico

Chaves-Hummingbird Ruin. Results of electrical resistivity and magnetic field gradient surveys at this 13th to 15th century ancestral Pueblo site. ( Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

San Marcos Pueblo Historic Mission. Combined results of resistivity and magnetic field gradient surveys conducted at the site of this historic mission. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

New York

Sylvester Manor. Magnetic gradiometry, electrical resistance, and GPR surveys reveal a buried trading colony with numerous outbuildings in this historic English-Dutch settlement dating to 1651. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

North Carolina

Queen Anne's Revenge. Results of a magnetic gradiometer survey at shipwreck site 0003BUI, believed to be the pirate Blackbeard's flagship. (Mark Wilde-Ramsing, Underwater Archaeology Unit North Carolina Division of Archives and History and Lynn Reedy, Meredith College)

North Dakota

Central Park, Grand Forks. An electrical resistance survey performed in Central Park revealed a number of cultural features of historic origin, some of which may be associated with a 19th Century brewery complex. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Double Ditch Village State Park. Magnetic gradiometry, electrical resistance, and electromagnetic conductivity at an early Mandan village with a double fortification system dating to AD 1600-1781. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Fort Clark Trading Post. A suite of sensing techniques, magnetic gradiometry, electrical resistance, electromagnetic conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, and GPR, are employed to reveal details about this early 19th century trading post. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Garden Coulee. electrical resistance and magnetic field gradient surveys on a 19th centurey site. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota and the Midwest Archeological Center, Lincoln, Nebraska) )

Hidatsa Earth Lodges. Results of an electrical resistance survey of a late 18th Century Hidatsa village in western North Dakota. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Huff Village State Park. Magnetic gradiometry, electrical resistance, and resistivity tomography at a proto-Mandan fortified village dating to the 15th century. Includes a 3D animation! (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Menoken Village State Park. Magnetic gradiometry and electrical resistance results show burned houses, fortification systems, and likely trail features of this 12th century village. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Mit-tutta-hang-kush (Fort Clark State Park). Magnetic gradiometry and electrical resistance results in a 400 m transect show internal house features, a fortification ditch, trail features, and iron artifact distributions in this early 19th century Mandan village, with depictions by the artists Catlin and Bodmer! (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

On-A-Slant Village. A pre/protohistoric fortified earth lodge near Mandan, North Dakota. Primary geophysical survey methods were magnetometry, electrical resistivity, and GPR. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas and Anthropology Research, University of North Dakota).

Primeau's Trading Post (Fort Clark State Park). A magnetic gradiometry survey shows the structure and principal features of this mid-19th century post of the fur trade. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Ward Village. Magnetic gradiometry and electrical resistance results show portions of two houses in this 15-16th century village, located in a Bismarck city park. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Ohio

Carty Site. Gradiometer and EM survey conducted on large scale (small area) site. (Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., Lexington, Kentucky)

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. Presents the results of an electrical resistivity survey conducted at the site. (Midwest Archeological Center, Lincoln, Nebraska)

Oklahoma

Odessa-Yates. Ground tests of resistivity and magnetic surveys of a late Prehistoric Plains Village. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Oregon

Fort Clatsop National Memorial. Discusses the results of a magnetic survey conducted over a portion of the Fort Clatsop site. The Fort was erected by Lewis and Clark in 1805. (John W. Weymouth, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska)

Bridge Maintenance Shop Site. Ultra high resolution cesium magnetometer survey conducted to identify a prehistoric faux hearth. (Michael Rogers, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR)

South Dakota

Whistling Elk. A comprehensive study describing the potential of linking multiple remote sensing methods at Whistling Elk, a beautifully preserved and fortified Initial Coalescent village (AD 1300). (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Utah

Locating an Anasazi Kiva and pit houses. Part of a Scientific American article describing the use of Ground Penetrating Radar to probe a Kiva and pit houses. (Larry Conyers, Denver University, Denver, Colorado)

Virginia

Falling Creek Ironworks. Electrical resistivity, magnetic field gradient, and GPR surveys at the location of an ironworks established by the Virginia Company on Falling Creek in 1619. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Jamestown. Ground-penetrating radar, soil resistivity, conductivity, and magnetometry tests were conducted over a 50 x 50 meter area in the center of the townsite in 1993. (Bruce Bevan, Geosight, Weems, Virginia)

Monticello Estate. Presents geophysical results from a survey in a suspected slave cemetery. (Meg Watters, GSSI, North Salem, New Hampshire)

Mount Vernon Estate. Presents geophysical results from surveys conducted at the site of the Grist Mill and Distillery, a suspected slave cemetery, and the Bowling Green on the front lawn of the estate. (Dan Delea and Meg Watters, GSSI, North Salem, New Hampshire)

Washington

Fort Vancouver, Washington. A GPR survey for historic graves. (Larry Conyers, Denver University, Denver, Colorado)

Wyoming

30-30 Winchester. A magnetic field gradient survey of a prehsitoric site. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Fort Laramie. An electric resistivity survey conducted over historic Fort Laramie. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Fort Phil Kearny Historic Site. Results of a geophysical survey conducted over portions of the site. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Fort William. A geophysical survey conducted at the Fort Laramie National Historic Site, in an area designated to be the most likely site of Fort William. (TerraPlus, Clark Davenport)

Prehistoric Hearths. Discusses the processing of magnetometer data collected as part of a phase II mitigation. (Archaeo-Physics, LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota)

European

Austria

Geophysics in the abbey's cloister. (Vienna University Of Technology, Vienna, AUSTRIA)

Middle Neolithic circular ditch system of Puch and Kleedorf. Geophysical survey and 3D reconstruction of a neolithic site norhtwest of Vienna.

Belgium

Belgian site for geophysics (French Language).

Czech Rebublic

Magnetic surveys of linear features in Bohemia. (Institute of Archaeology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC)

Ireland

The ArchaeoGeophysical Imaging Project. (National University of Ireland, Galway, IRELAND)

Ballyhoura Hills Project. (The Discovery Programme Ltd., Dublin , IRELAND)

Bantry - La Surveillante. (Applied Geophysics Unit, Galway, IRELAND)

Clonmacnoise - Bridge. (Applied Geophysics Unit, Galway, IRELAND)

Navan Fort (Emain Macha). Prehistoric Iron Age enclosure. Sponsored by the Department of Environment in Northern Ireland with help from The Navan Center, Queen's University, Belfast, California State University, Long Beach, Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas

North Munster Project. (The Discovery Programme Ltd., Dublin , IRELAND)

Rathcroghan - Royal Site. (Applied Geophysics Unit, Galway, IRELAND)

Strokestown - Famine Sites. (Applied Geophysics Unit, Galway, IRELAND)

Tara Project. (The Discovery Programme Ltd., Dublin , IRELAND)

Turlough - Fulachta Fiadh. (Applied Geophysics Unit, Galway, IRELAND)

Isle of Man

Billtown Neolithic Landscape Project. (Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UNITED KINGDOM & Manx National Heritage)

Italy

Campanaio Project. (Bournemouth University , Bournemouth, UNITED KINGDOM)

Geophysical Survey at Forum Novum. (Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM)

GPR Survey at Aquileia Archaeological Park. (Luca Baradello, Ronchis UD ITALY)

GPR Survey at the Church of the Madonna di Rosa. (Luca Baradello, Ronchis UD ITALY)

GPR Survey at Belgrado di Varmo. (Luca Baradello, Ronchis UD ITALY)

The Villa of Empress Livia. (Uppsala University , Uppsala, SWEDEN)

3-D GPR image of Forum Novum Roman Marketplace 2nd Century A.D. (Dean Goodman, GPR-SLICE and GPRSIM, Woodland Hills, CA.)

Northern Ireland

GPR Survey at Navan. (Elizabeth L. Ambos, Long Beach, California)

Navan Fort. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas)

Scotland

Dun Eistean, Lewis. (Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division , Glasgow, SCOTLAND)

Image processing and interpretation of ground penetrating radar data at a lake settlement or crannog in Loch Tay. (University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UNITED KINGDOM)

The Newstead Project. (University of Bradford, Bradford, UNITED KINGDOM)

Spain

Empuries. Greco-Roman settlement 6th century B.C.- 2nd century A.D. The survey used proton magnetometry, and GPR to locate Roman city features. (Kenneth L. Kvamme, University of Arkansas and Boston University Archaeological Field School)