Development of a Down-hole Magnetic Susceptibility Logger and Soil Magnetic Laboratory for Archaeological and Soils Investigations

在国家科学基金会重大研究仪器奖的支持下，Rinita Dalan博士将与巴廷顿仪器有限公司合作开发一种适用于考古和其他近地表应用的井下磁化率记录仪。地表过程影响土壤的磁性，在沉积环境中，可以利用磁性随深度的变化来识别单个埋藏面，并深入了解导致其磁性变化的因素。根据初步数据，达兰博士认为，人类改良的表面可以通过这种方式区分开来。因此，原则上，磁化率记录仪可用作定位和确定考古遗址范围的勘探装置。由于目前正在开发的测井仪可以测量深达1.6米的部分，并可以插入1英寸直径的孔中，因此它具有广泛使用的潜力。达兰博士将与巴廷顿仪器有限公司合作，帮助开发第二阶段的原型。将进行现场和实验室测试，实验将比较第二代原型与原始原型的性能，并用于提供进一步改进的建议。性能将根据包括重复性(噪声)、灵敏度、稳定性和分辨率在内的多个变量进行评估。此外，还将评估现场操作的速度和便利性以及应用的灵活性。实地和实验室测试以及分析和介绍将在一年半的时间内进行。南部阿加西湖地区是达兰博士很容易到达的考古重要地区，提供了一套多样化的土壤和沉积环境，因此提供了一个极好的测试环境。四分之三的遗址，大多数经过考古检查和教育学描述，给出了一个受控的背景。除了井下测量外，还将收集沉积物样本进行实验室分析。该项目之所以重要，有几个原因。它将为考古学家和土壤学家提供快速、轻松地绘制磁化率随深度变化的能力，并提供对造成这种变化的沉积物特征的洞察。它还将在本科生培养中发挥重要作用。达兰博士将积极让摩尔黑德州立大学的本科生参与这项研究的实验室和现场方面。该项目提供了教授考古学、地球物理学和土壤科学原理的极好工具，并有望提供一种经验，鼓励学生追求科学事业。

With support from a National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation award, Dr. Rinita Dalan will collaborate with Bartington Instruments Ltd. to develop a down-hole magnetic susceptibility logger appropriate for archaeological and other near-surface applications. Surficial processes affect soil magnetic properties and in depositional contexts it is possible to use magnetic variation over depth both to identify individual buried surfaces and to gain insight into the factors responsible for their magnetic alteration. Based on preliminary data, Dr. Dalan believes that humanly modified surfaces can be distinguishable in this way. Thus, in principle, a magnetic susceptibility logger could be used as a prospection device to locate and to determine the extent of archaeological sites. Because the logger currently under development can measure sections up to 1.6 meters in depth and be inserted within a 1" diameter hole, it has the potential for widespread use.Working with Bartington Instruments Ltd. Dr Dalan will help to develop a stage two prototype. Both field and laboratory tests will be conducted and experiments will compare the performance of the second-generation prototype to the original and be used to provide advice on further improvements. Performance will be evaluated in terms of a number of variables including repeatability (noise), sensitivity, stability and resolution. In addition, speed and ease of field operation as well as flexibility of application will be evaluated. Field and laboratory tests, together with analysis and presentation will be conducted over a period of 1.5 years. The southern lake Agassiz Region, an archaeologically important area easily accessible to Dr. Dalan provides a set of diverse soil and sedimentary environments and thus offers an excellent test situation. Three/four sites, most archaeologically examined and pedologically described give a controlled context. In addition to down hole measurements, sediment samples will be collected for laboratory analysis.This project is important for several reasons. It will provide archaeologists and soil scientists with the ability to quickly and easily plot variation in magnetic susceptibility over depth and offer insight into the sediment characteristics responsible for this variation. It will also play a significant role in undergraduate student training. Dr. Dalan will actively involve Moorehead State University undergraduates in both laboratory and field aspects of the research. The project provides an excellent vehicle to teach principles of archaeology, geophysics and soil science and hopefully will provide an experience which encourages students to pursue careers in science.