Experience in the application of non-invasive geophysical methods in solving problems of archeology

To date, in world practice, the use of non-invasive geophysical methods in solving archaeological problems is an integral part of the work at the initial stage of research. In the article the experience of using near-surface geophysics on different archaeological sites of Namangan, Djizak and Surkhandarya regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan is considered. The aim of the work was to study ancient burials of kurgan type, to identify cultural layer at the sites of ancient people standing and to study constructions and objects of vital activity of the Kushan period sites in the territory of Northern Bactria. Researches were carried out by the laboratory “Geophysics and nanomineralogy”of the Center of Advanced Technologies by a complex of geophysical methods including magnetic surveying, georadiolocation surveying and electrotomography (ET). The magnetic survey was carried out using Geometrics 856AX proton magnetometers (USA), with a distance of 50 cm between the sensors, so the step between the measurement points and the profiles was 50 cm. GPR measurements were carried out with a PulseEKKO PRO georadar of Sensors&Software company (Canada) using a grid profile system with a step between profiles of 1 m and an antenna with a central frequency of 100 MHz. During the electrical prospecting measurements by ET method a 72-electrode M.A.E. georesistivity meter was used. X-612EM (Italy) was used with different formations taking into account depth and size of the investigation object. Application of geophysical methods allows to determine different archaeological objects in accordance with the physical field under study, thereby the combination of methods makes it possible to obtain object-directed information, while not violating the integrity of the objects under study. As a result of processing and interpretation of field material were obtained maps, diagrams, sections and depth sections on geophysical data within the investigated sites with the allocation of anomalies that may be associated with archaeological objects. The results of the excavations, confirm the reliability of the research.