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Multi-frequency Electromagnetic Induction Survey for Archaeological Prospection: Approach and Results in Han Hangu Pass and Xishan Yang in China

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Abstract

This study presents the potential of multi-frequency electromagnetic induction (EMI) in archaeology. EMI is currently less employed for archaeological prospection with respect to other geophysical techniques. It is capable of identifying shallow subsurface relics by simultaneously measuring the apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and apparent magnetic susceptibility (MSa). Moreover, frequency sounding is able to quantify the depths and vertical shapes of buried structures. In this study, EMI surveys with five frequencies were performed at two heritage sites with different geological conditions: Han Hangu Pass characterized by cinnamon soil and Xishan Yang by sandy loams. In the first site, high ECa values were observed with variations in depth correlated to archaeological remains. Moreover, electromagnetic anomalies related to an ancient road and five kiln caves were identified. In the second site, an ancient tomb, indicating extremely low ECa and high MSa, was discovered. Its electromagnetic properties are attributed to the cavity and ferroferric oxides.

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Acknowledgements

This research was jointly supported by funding from the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA19030502) and Hundred Talents Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (Grant No. Y5YR0300QM).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Digital Earth Science, Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 9 Dengzhuang South Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100094, China

    Panpan Tang, Fulong Chen, Aihui Jiang & Wei Zhou

  2. International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage Under the Auspices of UNESCO, No. 9 Dengzhuang South Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100094, China

    Panpan Tang, Fulong Chen, Aihui Jiang & Wei Zhou

  3. Institute of Conservation and Management of Xin’an Hangu Pass (Han Dynasty), Cultural Relic Bureau of Xin’an County, Luoyang, 471800, China

    Hongchao Wang

  4. Institute for Archaeological and Monumental Heritage, National Research Council (CNR), Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy

    Giovanni Leucci, Lara de Giorgi, Maria Sileo & Nicola Masini

  5. Institute for Archaeological and Monumental Heritage, National Research Council (CNR), C/da Santa Loja s.n.c., 85050, Tito Scalo, Italy

    Giovanni Leucci, Lara de Giorgi, Maria Sileo & Nicola Masini

  6. Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310014, China

    Rupeng Luo

  7. Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis, National Research Council (CNR), C/da Santa Loja s.n.c., 85050, Tito Scalo, Italy

    Rosa Lasaponara

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  1. Panpan Tang
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  2. Fulong Chen
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  3. Aihui Jiang
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  4. Wei Zhou
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  5. Hongchao Wang
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  6. Giovanni Leucci
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  8. Maria Sileo
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  9. Rupeng Luo
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  10. Rosa Lasaponara
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  11. Nicola Masini
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Correspondence to Fulong Chen or Nicola Masini.

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Tang, P., Chen, F., Jiang, A. et al. Multi-frequency Electromagnetic Induction Survey for Archaeological Prospection: Approach and Results in Han Hangu Pass and Xishan Yang in China. Surv Geophys 39, 1285–1302 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-018-9471-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-018-9471-5

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