Ground-Penetrating Radar: An Introduction for Archaeologists - Softcover

Conyers, Lawrence B.; Goodman, Dean

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0761989285 ISBN 13: 9780761989288

Publisher: AltaMira Press, 1997

Synopsis

A comprehensive and comprehendible guide to one of the most promising methods of non-invasive archaeological exploration. . . . Traditional archaeological excavation methods are sometimes daunting due to political or financial complications. Other times, an improperly planned dig can destroy or entirely overlook the artifacts being sought. In either case, ground-penetrating radar, or GPR, is an increasingly applicable technology, but one that few archaeologists truly understand. That is where this book excels. It is tailored towards an archaeological community who are for the most part apprehensive about using 'high-tech' instruments and feel more comfortable on their hands and knees digging in the dirt. Its abundant illustrations and easy-to-understand tables help to keep this potentially daunting subject matter accessible. It also contains more complex equations and theory so that the more technically oriented can use it as a reference tool. Includes instructions and case examples, which highlight the strengths and weaknesses of this important technology and, overall, give a clear picture of strengths and pitfalls of the medium as a whole.

About this title

About the Author:

Lawrence B. Conyers presently teaches in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Denver and conducts geophysical research at archaeological sites throughout the United States and Central American.

Since 1989, Dean Goodman has headed the Geophysical Archaeometry Laboratory of the University of Miami, Japan Division.

Review:

Conyers and Goodman have provided a much-needed manual for the understanding and application of GPR to archaeological investigations....They have brought the complexities of GPR technology out of the realm of magic and into the field application level ofthe archaeologist....Should be required reading in every introductory archaeological methodology course. (Geoarchaeology)

Any archaeologist or cultural resource manager interested in learning what is beneath the ground surface will want this book. (American Antiquity)

The authors should be complimented on their efforts to write at a level approachable by the general archaeological public while at the same time providing sufficient information to get one started in GPR surveying. (Society Of Archaeological Sciences Bulletin)

Good, general background information...with a number of excellent, best-case examples. (Journal Of Anthropological Research)

Well-illustrated, well-edited, well-produced, but does the book do the subject justice? The answer is an unqualified 'yes.' This book is not an exhaustive methodological review of GPR theory, technology, technique and application, even in archaeology. It is a well-written review for the non-GPR expert of both the past and present use of GPR in archaeological studies--a difficult, yet successful accomplishment. (Ervan Garrison Journal Of The Society For Industrial Archaeology)

This book explains practical technicalities such as differences between systems with low-frequency antennas, which can penetrate deeply, and high-frequency antennas, which have much higher resolution. It covers practicalities including data collection, data processing, synthetic modeling, time-depth analyses, and mapping buried surfaces. (Mammoth Trumpet)

Conyers and Goodman have provided a much-needed manual for the understanding and application of GPR to archaeological investigations....They have brought the complexities of GPR technology out of the realm of magic and into the field application level of the archaeologist....Should be required reading in every introductory archaeological methodology course. (Geoarchaeology)

About this edition

• Publisher: AltaMira Press
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0761989285
• ISBN 13: 9780761989288
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 232