Invited contributionNon-invasive geophysical imaging of Maori ancestral burial
sites (urupa) have allowed us to test when and where
geophysical surveys are most likely to succeed. Results
from five sites, with both marked and unmarked graves, in
three coastal settings along the east coast of the South
Island of New Zealand show that burials in clay and silt
(loess) can be readily identified using geophysical
techniques, but burials in sand frequently have no
anomalous responses. The differences in responses are
likely due to the depositional setting. Clay and loess are
usually deposited as layers or massive beds so any
disturbance due to burial is relatively clear. In contrast, nearshore,
fluvial and dune sands contain sedimentary
structures that can be difficult to distinguish from burials,
and can mask the geophysical responses of the grave
