2-D Resistivity, Magnetic And Gpr Signature Towards Human Burials Affected By Temporal Variation And Type Of Soil

In this study, 2-D resistivity, GPR and magnetic methods are used to detect human burials. Periods of burial (recent, intermediate and old) and type of soil in burial produced different anomaly signature. Besides, the decomposition of human body will affect the geophysical signature. Four study area were selected which are Kampung Permatang Pasir Muslim cemetery (sandy soil) which located in Balik Pulau, Kampung Titi Teras Muslim cemetery (sandy clay soil) which is in Balik Pulau, Kampung Sungai Tokang (clayey soil) which located in Nibong Tebal and Kampung Permatang Tok Jaya (wet sand) which located in Kepala Batas. In this study, 2-D resistivity and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) are used for 2-D and 3-D data subsurface imaging. While for ground magnetic survey, analytic signal and Euler deconvolution technique are used. This study aims to investigate the geophysical response of human burials towards the periods of burial and different types of soil

Locating graves in different soil types and burial ages in Pulau Pinang using ground penetrating radar

Ground-penetration radar (GPR) is a geophysical tool widely applied in archaeological and forensic research, such as identifying the exact position of graves. A detailed GPR survey was conducted on the cemeteries in Permatang Pasir and Titi Teras, Penang Island. Moving a 500 MHz GPR antenna along parallel transects inside grids was used to collect data. The study’s aim was to present two case studies with varying soil types and burial ages. Analysis of reflection shape, reflection strength and signal polarity helped in the interpretation of burial anomalies. The results varied depending on the soil type; in the sandy field, the GPR investigations were clearer and less complicated than in the clayey sand field. When the conditions are ideal (low conductivity areas with little vegetation), GPR provides highly informative and precise results. Time-slices representations were used as a method to provide details about the subsurface reflection at a certain depth