Integrated interpretation of geophysical data in the archaeological site of Europos (northern Greece)

A multimethod geophysical survey was carried out in the archaeological site of Europos (northern Greece), to study the combined effectiveness and the merits of an integrated approach. Resistivity mapping was used to detect the shallower remains of the subsurface structures. Also, resistivity tomographies were carried out along dense profiles, to obtain further information on the vertical and lateral extent of the buried bodies. Two-dimensional inversion of resistivity data was performed using the smoothness constrained and robust inversion schemes. The magnetic total and residual field maps of the area studied are presented. Two-dimensional inversion of magnetic profiles was performed using the Levenberg-Marquadt method. The results of the magnetic data processing are in agreement with the anomalous zones that are revealed by the resistivity prospection. The results obtained by different methods assisted the interpretation of the three-dimensional subsurface structures inferred by the resistivity tomographies. A comparison of the results of the applied surveying methods was made, checking for the relative merits and demerits of the different techniques. Their combination is discussed, in terms of providing enhanced views contradicting the use of a single method. Technical disadvantages of the multimethod approach are also pointed out. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.