3D resistivity imaging of buried tombs at the Parion necropolis (NW Turkey)

Yunus L. Ekinci(1,+) and Mehmet A. Kaya(1)  

(1)Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Department of Geophysical Engineering, 17020, Çanakkale, Turkey

(+)Corresponding Author (ylekinci@comu.edu.tr)

(Received 04 November 2007; accepted 14 December 2007)


Abstract: The first archaeogeophysical survey at the ancient site of Parion (Biga-Çanakakle) is presented in this paper. During the summer of 2006 we conducted an electrical resistivity tomography survey at the necropolis. Resistivity data were collected along parallel profiles using Wenner-Schlumberger array and electrode spacing of 1 m. A two-dimensional least squares algorithm based on the smoothness-constrained technique inverted the apparent resistivity data. MATLAB-based visualization tools displayed resistivity distribution of the subsurface in three-dimensional volume. These tools yield volumetric resistivity images by combining two-dimensional model resistivity sections. Thus, both the horizontal and vertical extent of the anomalous zones were displayed. This visualization technique revealed high resistivity zones at depths ranging from 0.25 to 2.5 m at the investigation area. Taking into account archaeological evidence, these higher resistivity zones are the most promising locations for archaeological excavation.