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Phantasies, bureaucracy and fear of the unfamiliar door Orbons J., Archeopro (Nl.)
The document discusses the relationship between archaeology and geophysics, highlighting differing perceptions of geophysics among the public and archaeologists, along with the essentiality of formulating research questions before conducting geophysical surveys. It emphasizes the importance of good practice in preparation, including desktop studies and feedback post-excavation. The conclusion underlines that geophysics is a valuable tool in archaeology, contingent upon well-defined research inquiries.
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Phantasies, bureaucracy and fear of the unfamiliar door Orbons J., Archeopro (Nl.)
- 1. Phantasies, bureaucracy andfear of the unfamiliar JOEP ORBONS, MA BSC MCIFA ARCHEOPRO, EIJSDEN, THE NETHERLANDS BRUSSELS, JUNE 13 2018
- 2. Content Peoples perceptionof geophysics Archaeologists perception of geophysics Realistic geophysics Line of thinking archaeological geophysics 2
- 3. Peoples perception ofarchaeology 3
- 4. Peoples perception ofgeophysics 4
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- 6. Realistic geophysics: Divergence betweenarchaeology and geophysics Geophysicists view Hard work Good Very good measurement results Nice colours Images in newsletters and PR-folders Archaeologists view Vague blobs No results Failures Hard to understand No answers More questions 6 How to solve ?
- 7. Line of thinking Archaeologicalgeophysics Create Research questions Toolbox thinking Good practice Feedback from archaeology after excavations 7
- 8. Research questions Realistic situation: Do a groundradar survey on that clay area ! Do a resistivity survey for walls with a 12.5 cm resolution ! We are looking for graves, do an EMI survey ! We want a resistivity survey over 5 hectares ! Make a plan of all the details of the measurements prior to your fieldwork ! (bureaucracy) No research questions No archaeology Bureaucracy to try to unflex research as a fear of the unfamiliar. 8
- 9. Research questions 9 Researchphase Possible research questions Desktop study - What is already known about the location? Investigation phase - What is the geology in the study area? - Where is the former river bed? - Where are the disturbed zones? Mapping phase - Where are the walls? - What archaeology under the debri area? - How many ovens can be found? Validation phase - At what depth is the archaeology? - What age are the structures? - Are the walls of brick or sandstone/limestone? Excavation - How do the excavated structures continue outside the trial trench? - Are there still structures to be found under the excavated area?
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- 11. Archaeologists toolbox 11 Researchquestion Situation Geophysics Augering Testpit - Where is the former river bed? field *** ** --- - Where are the walls? Field *** ** * - What archaeology under the debri area? Pavement --- * *** - What age are the structures? Field --- --- *** - Are the walls of brick or sandstone/limestone? Pavement *** *** *** - How do the excavated structures continue outside the trial trench? Field *** ** ** - Are there still structures to be found under the excavated area? Excavation ** ** ** - etc, etc, etc, etc etc etc etc etc
- 12. Good practice: Preparation Desktop study Soil type Contrast between archaeology and substrate Terrain description pavement, dry, hydrology, depth of archaeology, post-depositional processes Archaeological research question What other tools from the toolbox. What geophysical technique could work? Or combinations of geophysics. Decide: Do or Don’t or Test 12
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- 14. How should geophysics be lookedupon! Poor Beautiful Archaeologicalresult Image PoorGood 14 Good practice
- 15. Good practice SeeEAC Guidelines Good preparations Desktop study Terrain description Archaeological research question Combine data Other geophysics Augerings Trial pits Translate geophysical report to archaeology Feedback from archaeology after next research steps (Missing in EAC Guidelines) 15
- 16. Feedback Be criticalof results. How to learn best: Feedback Overlay results of excavations on top of geophysics. Feedback not required in Dutch KNA/BRL Feedback not present in EAC guidelines 16
- 17. Feedback in otherarchaeology? Augering on sand Followed by trial trenching Conclusion - 21.4% Red: No archaeology or recent features - 59.8% Blue: Archaeological features, unrelatable, off site or disturbed - 18.8% Green: Good quality archaeology found n = 117 ArcheoPro does only prospections. Very rarely do we get feedback, unless we ask and find results ourselves. 17
- 18. Feedback geophysics RaadhuispleinHeerlen Desktopstudy November 2017 Geophysics February 2018 Trial trench (April-May 2018) 18
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- 21. Result matrix urbansites Location Result expectation Result Nice images Geofysics Added value Combination escential Research Question Fort Willem, Maastricht 50% Good + ++ + ++ Vreeland Castle 75% Good ++ ++ - ++ Sluice Volendam 25% Good -- ++ + ++ Village Huveneersheuvel 75% Poor ++ - + + Groenewoud Castle 75% Poor + + + + Havezathe Altena 50% Failure + - ++ - Fortifications Maastricht 25% Failure - - + - Plettenberg Castle 75% Failure -- - + - City fortifications Harderwijk 50% Failure -- -- ++ - Overall result urban sites: 50% 21
- 22. Conclusions No geophysicswithout an archaeological research question Geophysics is just one tool in the archaeologists toolbox. Good practice, preparation Find feedback after site is excavated. 22
- 23. Thank you foryour attention 23