Case Study Monday!
Uncovering Ancient Artifacts: Advanced Geophysics for Cultural Preservation 🏺🗺️
Before major infrastructure projects begin, ensuring that history isn't lost under the pavement is a vital step. GeoView took part in an extensive archeological investigation along a proposed pipeline route stretching from the Cordillera de Mérida mountain range in northeastern Colombia toward the Pacific Ocean.
The Mission:
Our team was tasked with surveying twelve distinct areas, each approximately 2,400 square meters, to identify buried Pre-Columbian artifacts prior to pipeline construction. The targets included everything from historic metal tools and pottery to ancient gold ear and nose rings.
The Technology:
Because the targets varied in material and depth, we utilized a multi-method geophysical approach across the grass and light underbrush terrain:
Frequency Domain Electromagnetics (EM-38): Using a Geonics EM38-MK2 in a vertical dipole orientation, we mapped soil bulk conductivity and inphase readings down to about 1.5 meters, capturing both ferrous (iron-bearing) and non-ferrous metals.
Total Field Magnetics: A Geometrics G-859 Cesium Vapor magnetometer was used to look deeper into the subsurface—sensitivities ranged from 2 to 5 meters depending on the target’s size and orientation.
Handheld Metal Detectors: To ensure nothing was missed, traditional handheld detectors were deployed to catch small, shallow metallic objects that the broader, deeper-sensing equipment might bypass.
The Results:
Over a three-week period, the combination of high-precision instruments and shallow-target sweeping successfully mapped out the sites.
Precision Excavation: GeoView provided comprehensive site maps and coordinates for each anomaly, allowing the archeological team to precisely excavate and document these invaluable historical artifacts before construction commenced.
Read More: https://geoviewinc.com/pre-columbian-artifacts/
#Geophysics #Archaeology #CulturalPreservation #PreColumbian #Electromagnetics #Magnetometer #SiteAssessment #PipelineEngineering #GeoView
3 months ago