Seeing beneath the soil: geophysical survey for archaeology

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the basic theoretical concepts of geophysical survey techniques, and how these theories are applied practically in the field.
• Ability to use relevant computer software to process and publish survey results to publication standard.
• Ability to produce final survey plots and written interpretation to publication standard.
• current best practice in archaeological fieldwork.
• Ability to use specific types of geophysical survey equipment, and understand their application and limitations in the field.
• Ability to recognise sites and monuments, their relationship to one another and their landscape context.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Use tapes or a total station to grid out a survey area
• Be capable of assessing the most appropriate method for survey of a site
• Be able to interpret the archaeological significance of anomalies located in your survey results
• Use key geophysical survey equipment in an archaeological context

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Undertake geophysical surveys using Resistivity, Magnetometry, Ground Penetrating Radar and magnetic susceptibility methods
• Produce archaeological interpretations of data, and write full reports on the findings of geophysical surveys
• Place your results within the context of map data using computer applications
• Process and produce images of geophysical survey results

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Assess the nature and extent of particular sites or monuments within their landscape context, and calculate the most suitable survey method to discover more about the nature, dimensions and structure of a site
• Understand the basic theoretical and practical elements of geophysical survey in archaeology
• Produce a final report on a survey, together with recommendations for future assessment based on valued reasoning from the results of your work and your background knowledge of the techniques used and their implications

The module is designed as an introduction to methods and practice of archaeological prospection, and aspects of field survey data processing and publication. You will learn the fundamental theory and methods of archaeological geophysics and be involved at a practical level with techniques of magnetometry, resistivity, Ground Penetrating Radar and magnetic susceptibility surveying. In addition you will be trained in use of a total station. The module will also include practical aspects of data downloading, processing and publication.

Teaching methods include

• Lectures
• Field survey practicals
• Computer practicals
• Tutorials where necessary

Learning activities include

• Practical sessions during lectures
• A one week intensive field survey during the Easter break
• Computer practicals and tutorials using specialist geophysics software

Innovative or special features of this module

 Dedicated geophysics software for the module on workstations

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Blog

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Your tutor will comment on these two posts to give you some formative feedback. You may also wish to post thoughts on other aspects of your reading to generate discussion and comment, please feel free to do so.
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.