A Pilot Study in Archaeological Metal Detector Geophysical Survey

Abstract

Metal detection (MD) has traditionally been viewed as a limited geophysical survey method for the identification of metal objects below the surface. However, this pilot study examines techniques utilizing the “ground balance” function, common to most modern metal detectors, to identify subsurface magnetic anomalies. The results of surveys have yielded inconclusive results on the use of metal detectors for feature identification. However, the results of this study suggest a high potential for more efficient and more productive archaeological reconnaissance surveys. The ground balance function, when combined with systematic sampling and geographic information systems interpolation methods, yields low-resolution subsoil magnetic susceptibility maps. Compared to other geophysical methods, such as gradiometry or electrical resistivity, the depth range of MD is limited. However, this technique, in upland contexts with shallow subsoils or sites with high potential for recent ground disturbing activities, can reveal subtle changes in the subsurface that traditional MD techniques would miss. Further studies are recommended to explore the many situations in which a metal detector can provide an informative alternative, though not a replacement, for other geophysical survey methods. This pilot study was funded by the National Geographic Society’s Early Career Grant program.

Keywords

• metal detection
• geophysical techniques
• reconnaissance survey
• field methods
• north american archaeology