Experiences from motorized GPR surveys in Iceland

Motorized multi-channel GPR investigations in Iceland in July 2022 showed great potential for large-scale archaeological geophysical surveys. Investigations on selected sites demonstrated effective fieldwork opportunities with excellent signal penetration through thick layers of ash and sand and very good contrast of turf houses towards the surrounding soil. Although Iceland has very challenging landscapes, many places are perfect suitable for motorized surveys making them very efficient for landscape archaeological investigations

Archäologische Prospektion der eisenzeitlichen Siedlung Uppåkra in Südschweden

Die Fundstelle Uppåkra in Schonen, Südschweden gilt als Schwedens größter und am längsten durchgängig besiedelter eisenzeitlicher Zentralplatz und ist seit 1996 das Objekt intensiver archäologischer Untersuchungen. Im August 2010 wurden, im Zuge einer mehrjährigen Kampagne des LBI-ArchPro, an dieser Fundstelle erstmalig großflächige magnetische- und Bodenradarmessungen durchgeführt. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die Daten mittels eines GIS ausgewertet und archäologisch interpretiert. Die hier gezeigten Ergebnisse bestätigen das große Potential geophysikalischer Prospektionsmethoden in Schweden. Die Kombination von motorisierten Magnetikund Bodenradarsystemen ermöglicht eine präzise und großflächige Erkundung archäologischer Fundstellen. Durch die hohe Auflösung der Messdaten war es möglich ein differenziertes Bild der bisher bekannten eisenzeitlichen Siedlung Uppåkra zu erstellen. Neben einer ersten Abgrenzung der Siedlung im Süden konnten unterschiedliche Bereiche innerhalb des Siedlungsareals unterschieden werden. Demnach zeichnet sich ab, dass sich in Uppåkra, rund um das bisher bekannte Zentrum mit dem Zeremonienhaus, zahlreiche große Langhäuser mit zugehörigen kleineren Gebäuden befanden. Archäologische Strukturen sind weit über das bisher vermutete Siedlungsareal hinaus zu erkennen. Eine mögliche Vorgängersiedlung oder ein abgesetztes Handwerksviertel wurde südlich des bisher vermuteten prähistorischen Siedlungsareals entdeckt. Weiters konnten mögliche Grabbauten in unmittelbarer Nähe zum bekannten Zeremonienhaus entdeckt werden, welche aktuell durch die Universität Lund und dem schwedischen Denkmalamt untersucht werden. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit sind als erster Schritt einer Kartierung der archäologischen Landschaft rund um Uppåkra zu sehen. Durch weitere Kampagnen des LBI-ArchPro soll eine großflächige Erfassung der archäologischen Landschaft erfolgen, um das Bild der eisenzeitlichen Siedlung zu komplimentieren.Uppåkra in Scania, southwestern Sweden, is considered to have been one of the very first proto-urban settlements in Scandinavia. Due to its great archaeological potential the site and its surrounding landscape were selected for the test of large-scale high resolution archaeological prospection technology and methodology developed by the LBI-ArchPro. A team from the LBI-ArchPro measured ten hectare land with magnetic and four hectare with ground penetrating radar in August 2010. In the present study the data from this fieldwork campaign were archaeological analyzed by using GIS. The results illustrate the high potential of archaeological-geophysical prospection in Sweden. The combination of motorized magnetic and ground penetrating radar, allows a precise and extensive exploration of archaeological sites. As a result of the high resolution of the measured data, it was possible to create a detailed picture of the prehistoric settlement Uppåkra. A clear border of the settlement was identified in the south of the measured fields. A possible earlier settlement or a detached craft area was recognised in the south of the researched area of the Iron Age settlement. Numerous large longhouses associated with smaller buildings were found around the area with the previously known ceremonial house. In the west of the ceremonial house, some structures of possible tombs were discovered. One of these tombs is currently investigated by the University of Lund and the Central Swedish Heritage Board. This work is a first step of mapping the archaeological landscape of Uppåkra by using motorized geophysical prospection methods. The LBI-ArchPro will measure huge areas in further fieldwork campaigns to achieve a comprehensive image of the Iron Age settlement Uppåkra

Sensing Archaeology in the North: The Use of Non-Destructive Geophysical and Remote Sensing Methods in Archaeology in Scandinavian and North Atlantic Territories

In August 2018, a group of experts working with terrestrial/marine geophysics and remote sensing methods to explore archaeological sites in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Scotland and Sweden gathered together for the first time at the Workshop ‘Sensing Archaeology in The North’. The goal was to exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and consider future directions for further developing these methods and strategies for their use in archaeology. After the event, this special journal issue was arranged to publish papers that are based on the workshop presentations, but also to incorporate work that is produced by other researchers in the field. This paper closes the special issue and further aims to provide current state-of-the-art for the methods represented by the workshop. Here, we introduce the aspects that inspired the organisation of the meeting, a summary of the 12 presentations and eight paper contributions, as well as a discussion about the main outcomes of the workshop roundtables, including the production of two searchable databases (online resources and equipment). We conclude with the position that the ‘North’, together with its unique cultural heritage and thriving research community, is at the forefront of good practice in the application and development of sensing methods in archaeological research and management. However, further method development is required, so we claim the support of funding bodies to back research efforts based on testing/experimental studies to: explore unknown survey environments and identify optimal survey conditions, as well as to monitor the preservation of archaeological remains, especially those that are at risk. It is demonstrated that remote sensing and geophysics not only have an important role in the safeguarding of archaeological sites from development and within prehistorical-historical research, but the methods can be especially useful in recording and monitoring the increased impact of climate change on sites in the North

Commentaries on viewpoint : physiology and fast marathons

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INNGREPSFRIE ARKEOLOGISKE REGISTRERINGSMETODER I «ARKEOLOGI PÅ NYE VEIER» E39 SØRVEST.

I forbindelse med utbyggingen av E39 Sørvest (strekningen Lyngdal vest til Ålgård i Flekkefjord kommune) hadde Nye Veier et mål om å forenkle, fornye og forbedre planlegging og utbygging av veiprosjekter. Som et ledd i dette arbeidet ble prosjektet «Arkeologi på nye veier» etablert. Prosjektet er også en del av eller et utskudd fra prosjektet «Arkeologi i vegen?» som er et samarbeidsprosjekt mellom Statens vegvesen og NIKU. Bruk av inngrepsfrie arkeologiske registreringsmetoder, som blant annet geofysiske metoder, er en viktig del av prosjektet. I prosjektet har NIKU benyttet ulike inngrepsfrie arkeologiske registreringsmetoder med mål om at disse kan bidra til å effektivisere de arkeologiske registreringene som utføres av Agder fylkeskommune, Kulturhistorisk museum (KHM) og Norsk maritimt museum (NMM), øke effektiviteten i planprosessene og gi mer forutsigbarhet i planarbeidet. NIKU gjennomførte motoriserte og manuelle georadarundersøkelser, LIDAR analyser og magnetiske undersøkelser. De undersøkte områdene var dessverre så godt som funntomme og de inngrepsfrie metodene kunne derfor ikke bidra med ny arkeologisk kunnskap. Prosjektgjennomføringen og bruken av de forskjellige metodene var imidlertid teknisk vellykket. Georadarundersøkelsene på våtmark var en teknisk nyvinning utviklet spesielt for dette prosjektet, og disse undersøkelsene leverte gode resultater. Erfaringer fra dette prosjektet kan benyttes i fremtidige undersøkelser i myr og andre våtområder

Georadarundersøkelser mellom Hverven og Guåker/Næsten. Stange kommune, Hedmark fylke

NIKU gjennomførte den 7. og 8. mai 2019 georadarundersøkelser i områder mellom Hverven gård og Guåker/Næsten i Stange kommune, Hedmark fylke. Undersøkelsene ble gjennomført på oppdrag fra Hedmark fylkeskommune, som et ledd i registreringen av automatiske kulturminner i forbindelse med utbygging av Dovrebanen. Til sammen ble 7,3 hektar dyrket mark undersøkt, fordelt over tre delområder. Georadarundersøkelsene har påvist kokegroper og kokegropfelt, en rekke groplignende strukturer og mulige koksteinslag, i tillegg til moderne inngrep som dreneringsgrøfter og avløpsrør