There has long been a strong collaboration between geologists and archaeologists, and the sub-field of geoarchaeology is well developed as a discipline in its own right. This book now bridges the gap between those fields and the geophysical technique of ground-penetrating radar (GPR), which allows for three-dimensional analysis of the ground to visualize both geological and archaeological materials. This method has the ability to produce images of the ground that display complex packages of materials, and allows researchers to integrate sedimentary units, soils and associated archaeological features in ways not possible using standard excavation techniques. The ability of GPR to visualize all these buried units can help archaeologists place ancient people within the landscapes and environments of their time, and understand their burial and preservation phenomena in three-dimensions.
Readership: Advanced students in archaeology and geoarchaeology, as well as practicing archaeologists with an interest in GPS techniques.
By:
Lawrence B. Conyers
Imprint: Wiley-Blackwell
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 254mm,
Width: 196mm,
Spine: 15mm
Weight: 544g
ISBN: 9781118949948
ISBN 10: 1118949943
Series: Analytical Methods in Earth and Environmental Science
Pages: 160
Publication Date: 11 December 2015
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
About the Author vii Acknowledgments viii 1 Introduction to Ground]penetrating Radar in Geoarchaeology Studies 1 Introduction 1 Scales and Applications of Geoarchaeological Studies with GPR 3 Basics of the GPR Method 4 Integrating GPR with the Geological and Archaeological Record 6 References 10 2 Basic Method and Theory of Ground]penetrating Radar 12 Introduction 12 Production of Reflections, Depth of Penetration, and Resolution 14 Data Collection and Recording 15 Production and Processing of Reflection Profiles 16 More Advanced Data Processing Steps 18 Interpretation of GPR Reflections in Profiles 19 Resolution of Stratigraphic Units 22 Weather and Moisture Differences as They Affect Resolution 27 References 32 3 Integration of Geology, Archaeology, and Ground]penetrating Radar 34 Introduction 34 Examples of Correlating Radar Reflections to Define Stratigraphic Interfaces 35 References 44 4 Fluvial, Alluvial Fan, and Floodplain Environments 46 Introduction 46 Fluvial Systems 47 Fluvial Terraces 51 Alluvial Fans 56 References 60 5 Soils Horizons, Peat Bogs, and Swamps 62 Introduction 62 Soil Horizons 63 Swamps and Peat Bogs 69 References 71 6 Beaches, Sand Dunes, and other Coastal Environments 73 Introduction 73 Beaches 74 Erosion Features along Coasts 77 Lagoon and Tidal Flats 79 Aeolian Dunes 81 References 90 7 Lakes and Deltas 92 Introduction 92 Lakes 93 Deltas 94 References 97 8 Caves and Rock Shelters 99 Introduction 99 Rock Shelters 100 Mapping Adjacent to Rock Shelters 104 Caves 106 References 111 9 Anthropogenic Features and Urban Environments 113 Introduction 113 Middens 114 Anthropogenic Deposits 118 Urban Settings 122 References 130 10 Conclusions 132 Collection of Data for this Book and the Future of GPR in Geoarchaeology 132 Environments Where GPR is Most Applicable in Geoarchaeology 134 The Future of GPR in Geoarchaeology 136 References 136 Glossary of Common GPR Terms 138 Index 143
Lawrence B. Conyers is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Denver, Colorado, USA. Holding degrees in both geology and anthropology, with a focus on archaeology, his field experience has taken him around the world on hundreds of projects, many of which are used as examples in this book. He is the author of four previous books on the ground-penetrating radar method and its interpretation.
