Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research University of Baghdad College of Science Department of Geology

Investigation of The subsurface archaeological features using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in ancient UR-city (South west Nasiriya /Iraq)
BY MAHMOUD A.H. ALKAFAJI B. Sc. 2000 Supervised by Ass. Prof Dr. Jassim M. Thabit Prof Ahmed S. Albana

2011 A.D.

The study area

The study area lies in south of Nasiriya city within Thi-Qar province south of Iraq, the study is made over the ancient city of Ur.The city of Ur is one of the most important archaeological cities in the world, Urs buildings were characterized by its unique architectural features, and had seen a tremendous advancement in the beauty of arts, literature, invention of writing, metal smith, city planning, trade, laws, and imputation systems. Most buildings were built with clay bricks and the binding materials used was a natural (tar), which participated in preserving this site pretty well. Its aesthetic properties are still intact. Ur was represent the capital of the Sumerians in the third dynasty of Ur (2113-2006 B.C) . Its lactation near the sea made it a center of commerce and trade routes. Ur considered one of the oldest cities in the world and the largest city boasting about 65,000 inhabitants within its walls.

The major objective of the research is to develop scientific studies in the field of archaeology in Iraq by using the modern explorations techniques such as GPR technique. There is a large gap in archeological services in Nasiriyah governorate, where the exploratory visits and observations of field is the only way to determine of archeological sites. There is a large expansion for the archeological sites in the Nasiriya governorate, and most of these sites are unknown dimensions and are located in an urban. This causes made the work halted in the some of service projects. Therefore, it is very important and dire needs to investigate these sites, especially the use of modern methods of exploration (Nasiriya Museum department). Used of GPR technique met with great acceptance from the Nasiriyah Museum department.

250 m
N: 30 .9635 E: 46. 1072

Location:

The study area lies in southwest of Nasiriya city within Thi-Qar governorate at the southern part of Iraq (figure 1-1), about 380 Km to south east of Baghdad , 200 km north of Al-Basra (Arabian Gulf), 6 km to the east of Baghdad Basra high - way

Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) Method

Most geophysical methods used in the studying of archaeology are principally based on the detection of variations of magnetic and electrical properties of underground soil, and identify and separate between artifacts and the natural soil variations. Ground penetrating radar is a near-surface geophysical technique that allows investigators to discover and map (depth and dimensions) buried features. It is used electromagnetic waves (energy) to determine underground features due to chemical or physical changes in the underground soil. The GPR technique is a non-destructive method of archaeological investigation, and is a valuable technique to the modern archaeological project. Excavation is often expensive and sometimes controversial. GPR can offer a suitable and accurate data regarding site stratigraphy, and the location and depths of covered features.
Display unit Control unit Power supply Battery, 12 V.DC. Antenna unit shielded type

Fieldworks

The exploratory field visits

Field observations

Topographic & nature of the site

Located the site

Design field survey Plan

Guess the depth of the target

Guess the geometry of the target

Conductivity & Permittivity of the target & soil

Evaluating the expected noise

Evaluating of GPR operating Setting

Details survey

Executive the tests of the best operating parameters setting of GPR & anomaly form test

Executive the profiles survey in studied area

Data processing & Interpretation

The summery of the exploratory field visit: 1) The characteristics of the site and fieldwork plane A) The area represented a site of ancient city including many exposed buildings
, walls and civilian tools used for housing or temples and tombs . B) The natural of architectural of the building on the site have approximate same architectural design . C) The natural of geometry of the exposed features in the site, most of these features represented remains of buildings walls. The width of these walls is between 1-2 m, and the depth is between 1-10m from the earth surface. The walls have regular shapes such as rectangles. D) The natural of materials in the site, the walls made of backed clay from the host materials represented by clay and silt. This fact clear that the subsurface features and the host materials have different in the electrical properties of the materials (dielectric constant, and the electrical conductivity) . The binders of the the backed clay bricks materials is asphalt, and this is proof of the existence of high percentage of moisture which found already in the archaeological features . E) The natural of hydrological of the site, because of the site is far from any surface water source the natural of hydrological not present, also the ground water level found to be extending from (40-50) meter below ground surface . The rains in winter are factor which affected on the site.

1.5 m width

Earth surface leve

Sediments High= 2 m

Host materials
These remains of clay sunbaked, which found on surface are good evident to investigate under this area.

Archaeological wall

Asphalt in different places

The Fieldwork plane : The fieldwork plan included the flowing below 1- Selection of the study area . The dimensions and the size of studied area were selected by the researcher and by cooperation with the Nassriya Museum department. 2- Leveling works had been done to evaluate the topography of the studied area. The level varied between 0-0.25 cm, and about 12 m above sea level 3- Design field survey has been prepared based on the following data 30 m N

The studied area extended about 250 mfrom Al-Zaqura

Direction of profiles

N
15 m profile length

15 m

1 m P 14 P 15

1 m P 16

P1

P 31

Registered the marks

GPR Data Acquisition

The final stage of the fieldwork survey represents raw data acquisition. One antenna used in this study; 25 MHz, the maximum penetration depth is between 5-15 m. This antenna was the only available in order to achieve the survey. One of the research objectives is to study the capability of the GPR to detect the underground archeological features. The capability of GPR depended on many factors such as antenna frequency, operating setting parameters, soil characteristics...etc. Therefore, the fieldwork measurements in this study divided into two stages. The first stage included two test. The first test included nine profiles which applied in the studied area to chose the best operating parameters setting of the GPR which it more suitable and related to natural of studied area soil. The second test included four profiles applied in exposed area extended about 250 m from the studied area in order to estimate the anomaly forms in the site in general and specific at the study area. The second stage included thirty one profile applied at the studied area.

Data acquisition of first stage: Profiles of the operating parameters setting tests

Velocity = 150 m / ns

Sample frequency = 3475.47 MHz

Point interval = 0.10 m

Velocity = 90 m / ns

Sample frequency = 2548.68 MHz

Point interval = 0.060 m

Velocity = 63 m / ns

Sample frequency = 1662.18 MHz

Point interval = 0.030 m

Data acquisition of first stage: Profiles of the GPR response for exposed archaeological walls

The profile SA 1 is trident NW-SE vertically on the wall strike

4m 0m

SE

NW

SW
The width of the

wall on the earth surface is 1 m

NE
The profile SA2 is trident SW-NE parallel to the wall strike

SE

NW NE

SW

Data acquisition of second stage:

Thirty one profiles are tending south north applied in the studied area. Appendix (I) shows the final processing profiles from 1 to 31. Profile (18) is shown here as sample of the raw data before applying any type of processing producers . The experimental results of the first group were the best guide to get the survey done smoothly and without confusion. Below are the settings of GPR used: Antenna: 250 MHz Time windows : 189.1 ns velocity : 90 m/ns point interval :0.030 m Sampling frequency :2548.68 MHz Antenna separation : 0.31 m Number of Sample :512

Processing and Interpretation of field data

Raw Data

DC Removal filters

Time zero adjustment filters

Amplitude Correction filters (The time gain filter)

Band-pass filters

Back ground Removal filter

Interpretation the profiles of operating parameters setting

Velocity = 150 m / ns Sample frequency = 3475.47 MHz

Point interval = 0.10 m

Velocity = 90 m / ns

Sample frequency = 2548.68 MHz

Point interval = 0.060 m

Velocity = 63 m / ns

Sample frequency = 1662.18 MHz Point interval = 0.030 m

Interpretation the profiles of exposed anomalies form

Exposed wall
Direction of the survey Direction of the survey

SE

NW

NE

SW

Exposed wall
The upper part of the exposed wall The upper part of the expected wall

1 2 3
Expected wall

The depth of investigation of radar signals

The upper surface of the wall is at depth of 1.25 m

The upper surface of the Arc is at depth of 3.25 m

Wall

The width of the arc base is 1.75 m

The width of grave base is 1.40 m

Interpretation of the profiles

The upper part of the Expected wall

This arc perhaps represent soil hill

Deformed anomaly

The upper part* of the Expected wall Expected wall

Expected wall * Wall borders * Depth of investigation of radar signals

Note: *Horizontal dotted line defines the depth of investigation of the radar signals of all the profiles below *Vertical solid lines defined the expected wall borders in all the profiles below *The upper part of the Expected wall is extended between (1.25-1.5)m

Expe cted wall

The upper part of the wall

Depth of investigation of radar signals

(V) trenc h Or Cup shap e

Data Graphic Representation

30 m

Direction of the surveys

15 m

P1

C.I = 20 ns, Depth = 1.5 m

Profiles spacing = 1 meter

P31

The almost subsurface features in the final graphic representation shows that these shapes could be a walls used for housings or temples or for any civil buildings, where almost exposed buildings around Al-Zagurat were used for such purposes. These results could be helpful to guide Iraqi Archaeologists in future excavations to understand and the new secret of this hosing area.

Survey Direction

Ground surface
Profile 31

1.5 m depth
Profile 1