The Development of Advanced Archaeological Prospecting Methods

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The research project of The Development of Advanced Archaeological Prospecting Methods has been carried out from the fiscal years of 1992 through 1996 as the Scientific Research on Priority Area. the research was supported by a grant from The Ministry of Education.An objective of the project was to collect historical information not only from the archaeological remains buried underground but also to obtain information about cultural properties which were exposed on the ground by natural erosion or from partial excavation. For this objective advanced prospecting instruments and methods were developed within the research project.A close connection between natual scientists and archaeologist was essential for the success of the project. The research members met frequently at archaeological sites to compare survey information of new prospecting instruments and methods for two different research areas :1) Development of instrumentation including, GPR (Chirp compression pulse radar and FM-CW … More radar), resistivity, 3-D magnetometer, seismic sounding including ultra sonic CT,and for 2) development of chemical prospecting and optical observation techniques for archaeological prospection procedures in the field.Prospecting by using the new instruments and methods in the field by archaeologists, several conclusions regarding the research priorities could be drawn :A) Magnetometry, susceptibility, magnetization measurements and ESCA (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) are effective for specifying the thermal-history of the soil.B) To locate the stone structures, GPR,resistivity and VLF methods are effective identifying soil-to-soil contacts, metal artifacts and organic remains. These surveys sre most effective when data from several methods methods are combined.The general management group had organized the Second International Conference on Archaeological Prospections held in Ise in September of 1997, for reporting the results to the scientific community. The conference was also open to the general public. Less