HR: 10:50h
AN: NS32A-02    [Abstracts]
TI: Assessing the Potential of Archaeological Prospection Techniques in Iceland
AU: * Horsley, T J
EM: T.Horsley@Bradford.ac.uk
AF: Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford , Bradford, BD7 1DP United Kingdom
AB: Since 1999 research has been undertaken to assess the potential of archaeological prospection techniques in Iceland, where a particular set of geomorphological and archaeological challenges are present. In addition to the intense thermoremanent effects of the igneous geology, other limiting factors include numerous tephra deposits, periglacial phenomena (including frost hummocks and stone polygons), and regions of active soil erosion or sand deposition. The nature of the archaeological remains themselves provides further difficulties. Up until the beginning of the 20th century most structures were largely built of turf, and once collapsed and buried only provide slight features for detection. This investigation has required the development of a methodology for assessing the use of archaeological prospection methods in a new environment. Some fifty high-resolution magnetometer and earth resistance surveys have been systematically conducted throughout Iceland to encompass the range of archaeological features and a variety of geological and geomorphological situations. The results of these surveys have been integrated with other sources of archaeological evidence to allow a proper assessment of their success for not only locating buried remains but also for their characterization and interpretation. Despite the limiting factors, the results demonstrate the potential of these techniques for archaeological prospection in many parts of the country, especially when undertaken as part of an integrated approach. New and previously known structures have been detected with both techniques, including those constructed of turf and stone or entirely from turf, and dating from the earliest Viking remains to recently abandoned farm sites. This work also highlights the benefits of undertaking a thorough evaluation of geophysical methods in new environments before they are routinely applied. Fieldwork methodologies may be refined and novel approaches to data processing and displaying can be investigated to maximize the archaeological interpretations that may be drawn. This research has been undertaken as a NERC-funded Doctoral Research project at the University of Bradford, UK, in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology, Iceland (FSI) and the North Atlantic Biocultural Organization (NABO).
DE: 1540 Rock and mineral magnetism
DE: 8404 Ash deposits
DE: 9315 Arctic region
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
SC: Near-Surface Geophysics [NS]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly