Short Description
The multi-sensor magnetometer system produces detailed images of archaeological structures hidden beneath the ground by taking measurements at ground level. Specialised magnetometers are used to measure small-scale and extremely faint variations in the Earth’s magnetic field at a height of 30 to 50 cm above the ground surface. These anomalies are caused by differences in the magnetic properties of, for example, walls, stones and cavities compared to the surrounding soil. Numerous archaeological structures, such as brick walls, are particularly clearly revealed in magnetic field measurements due to increased magnetisation acquired during the firing of clay and loam – known as thermoremanent magnetisation.
Contact Person
Christian Hanus
Research Services
non-destructive archaeological surveying, subsurface investigations
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The multi-sensor magnetometer can be integrated with the multi-sensor robot platform developed as part of the heritageROSS project, and its data can be recorded and synchronised with that from the other sensor systems.