Studiedag 13 juni 2018: de rol van geofysisch onderzoek in het archeologieproces Presentatie van de lezing De erfgoedradar: kansen voor vrijwilligers door Verbeek B., Seinen P., Werkgroep Innovatieve Meettechnieken tbv Archeologie (WIMA) (Nl.)

1. Erfgoedradar: new opportunities for amateurs
Bas Verbeek en Peter Seinen
Werkgroep Innovatieve Meettechnieken t.b.v. Archeologie (WIMA)
onderdeel van de AWN-AVKP
13 juni 2018

2. Overview
• AWN-AVKP-WIMA
• Equipment
• Workflow
• Examples and results
• Conclusions

3. About AWN-AVKP-WIMA
• Most Dutch amateur archeologists are members of
“Archeologische Werkgroep Nederland (AWN)” or local
groups associated with the AWN.
• The “Werkgroep Innovatieve Meetechnieken tbv
Archeologie (WIMA)” is part of region 23:
“Archeologische Vereniging Kempen-Peelland(AVKP)”.
• WIMA focusses on surveying, researching, deploying,
processing, presenting and demonstrating new
innovative techniques - in particular Ground
Penetrating Radar (GPR).

4. Our Mission
• WIMA meets the demand for innovative surveying
techniques to involve amateurs in non-destructive
archaeological fieldwork within the existing
legislation.
• New surveying techniques offer opportunities not
only for existing amateurs but also boost the image
of archeology to attract a new generation of
amateurs.
• WIMA believes in synergy between professionals
and amateurs. The accessibility of new survey
techniques will not only give an impulse to
archaeological research but also will improve the
quality.
• Conclusions from Vestigia report (Het gebruik van
geofysische prospectietechnieken in de
Nederlandse archeologie 2011): the need for more
investments, field surveys and scientific debate.

5. WIMA results 2013 - 2018:
• Pilot projects in late 2013
• Deployment of the Erfgoedradar in 2014
• 75 field surveys carried out in collaboration with
amateurs, professionals and students
• Step-by-step workflow designed using WIMA
expertise
• Articles in local newspapers, magazines and tv
documentaries.
• Participation in scientific debates and workshops
• Book publication of findings and results (2019)
wima.avkp@hccnet.nl
www.erfgoedradar.nl

6. The Erfgoedradar – Sensing Heritage
• No such thing as a commercial “Off The Shelf” device
• There is no such thing as a “show me the archaeology button”
• There is no such thing as a “position me in history button”
• There is no such thing as a “synthesis button”
• Hardware
• GPR (500MHz)
• GNSS (RTK)
• Ruggedized Table PC
• Software
• RadarMAP (real time)
• PRISM (post processing)
• Golden Software (final mapping)
• Workflow
• Step by step “key to success” guide

7. Step 1: Preparation
Step 2: Field work
Step 3: Processing
Step 4: Prospection Map
Step 5: Interpretation -> back to Step 3-(2)
Step 6: Testing and answering research question(s)
Step 7: Conclusions
Workflow:

8. Step 1: Preparations
• Clear objectives and goals (intake form)
• Prospection model
• Research questions
• Defining Plan of Approach:
• Research question i.e. knowledge about geometry
• Soil conditions i.e. contrast and depth
• Terrain conditions i.e. GPR ground coupling
• Location conditions i.e. RTK GNSS positioning

9. Step 2: Fieldwork
• Verification fieldwork survey strategy Plan
of Approach step 1
• Equipment parameters setup
• parameters Bar-check (calibration and
check X, Y, Z, V (RDP))
• Survey and data acquisition (good quality
reflection data)
• Field to finish data and file management

10. Step 3: Processing
• Processing Raw data: Frequency filter, background noise removal,
• Post processed data converting to (X,Y,Z,A) file: RD/LB/UTM of locale coordinates and Z-value:
NAP/TAW or Groundlevel (MV)
• Create 4D model
• Create 3D model of the microrelief
• Check models using visualizations: contour, amplitude slices, face-render, iso-plot and profiles

11. Step 4: Prospection map
• Visual presentation of an "amplitude slice" map (level ground and local height ) of
the data
• Prospection based on degree of reflection and geometry (shape, size, depth,
orientation and location)
• NOTE: Prospection map is in a geophysical context

12. Step 5 : Interpretation
• Merging the prospection map with known (archaeological) information
(collaboration between WIMA, amateurs and professionals)
• Verify data to the Feature Library or Synthetic Model
• Identification based on degree of reflection and geometry (shape, size,
depth, orientation and location)
• Further analysis of the reflection radardiagrams
• If necessary jump back to step 2-3
NOTE: Interpretation is in an archeological context

13. Step 6: Testing and answering
• Assessment of
prospection model
• Answering research
questions
• Final Mapping,
additional visualization
and reporting of the
results

14. Step 7: Conclusions
• Adjust workflow to findings
• Addition to the Feature Library

15. Examples and Results
• 75 Projects:
• archaeological periods
• soil types
• objects
• bycatch
• Highlights

16. Mierlo Castle

17. Zilverakkers Veldhoven

18. Paterskerk – Weert - 5 juni 1568

19. Excavation at ground level – Zandoerle

20. Conclusions
• WIMA has shown that geophysics with GPR is efficient, scientifically
validated and economically feasible and can be easily integrated in the
archaeological process:
Non-destructive GPR allows amateurs to participate fully in the archaeological process
within the rules of the Valletta Convention;
Adjusting and adapting expectations is a must. Like all techniques, GPR has known
limitations - Focus on what you can see instead of what you can't see. Geophysics is a
piece of the puzzle - not a magic box that makes a video of what is under the ground
which answers all your questions;
Amateurs generally work on a non-profit basis - costs are limited to equipment rental
only.