Geophysical survey is often stipulated by local authority archaeologists as an integral part of archaeological site investigations in planning conditions. But what is geophysical survey and why use it?
Geophysical survey, also known as geophysics, describes a range of techniques that reveal and map archaeological features that are not easily recognisable on the ground by measuring the earth’s physical characteristics. Buried archaeological remains cause subtle variations or ‘anomalies’ in properties such as soil magnetism and electrical conductivity.
