Mapping archaeological sites of the middle bronze age with help of detailed magnetic survey

In the late 1970-s - 1990-s fortified settlements were discovered in a territory of 80 000 sq. km in the Southern Urals. Over 20 sites dating from the terminal Bronze Age were revealed by aerial photography. Architectural structures, dwelling pits and burial mounds at some settlements were destroyed by ploughing. Now detailed study of the settlements is possible only with help of geophysical survey. The Bronze Age fortified settlement of Konoplyanka in the Karagaily-Ajat River valley, Chelyabinsk region, was identified on aerial photos and investigated by field survey. In 2009 detailed magnetic survey was carried out at the site in the framework of the project "Multidisciplinary investigation of the Bronze Age sites in the Southern Urals". Magnetic maps of fortifications well correspond to the data of aerial photography, and reveal new details in the internal plan of the hillfort. At a burial mound situated nearby there was revealed a magnetic anomaly related to the objects situated in the mound bottom. Thus, geophysical survey permits reconstructing the hillfort internal plan and determine more precisely the spots for future excavations.