Arkeologisk geofysikk i Norge – En historisk oversikt og statusevaluering

Abstract

Archaeological geophysics in Norway - an historical overview and status evaluation The introduction of archaeological geophysics to Norway has been relatively slow and the methodologies employed are still very much in their infancy. A recently compiled overview indicates that only about 120 surveys have been conducted in Norway over the last 40 years, which is a relatively low number compared with other countries. In other European countries several hundred surveys are conducted annually and archaeological geophysics is generally considered an integral part of archaeological investigations and evaluations. The article gives a short description of the most commonly used methods in archaeology, and focuses on some of the more important geophysical surveys carried out in Norway. Furthermore, it seeks to explain why the Norwegian archaeological milieu has been reluctant to adopt these methods in their work.