Assessment of prospects for the use of magnetic surveys for the study of archaeological sites

Purpose. Magnetometry is currently the most popular geophysical technique used for archaeology. The current task for optimization and development of archaeological and geophysical research is to assess the prospects of magnetic exploration within the territory of archaeological sites. In order to develop this subject, the article analyses the experience of archaeological and geophysical works carried out in the Ob-Irtysh interfluves. The research was conducted within the framework of cooperation between the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography and the Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Results. Conclusions are made on the basis of comparison of magnetic mapping data, excavation test and measurements of magnetic properties of different soils. The source base includes 30 archaeological sites. There are proposed recommendations for magnetic survey in the presence of interference of various types. The conclusion confirms that the main cause of anomalies over archaeological objects is the ingress of a more magnetic soil in the depths surrounding it. Magnetic survey was found to be effective for archaeological sites, where the contrast of soils and underlying blanket deposits by magnetic susceptibility is no less than 20-30 · 10-5 SI units. It is observed that zones of magnetic properties with high contrast are linked to areas with hills. Conclusion. The achieved results will allow determine the prospects of magnetic survey of archaeological sites of the Ob-Irtysh interfluves. The technique used to estimate magnetic properties is universal, however it will differ between regions due to magnetic properties of the soils. In order to increase the efficiency of archaeological and geophysical works, the geography of such research needs to be expanded.