DETAILED GEOMAGNETIC SURVEY FOR DETECTION OF BURIED ARCHAEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE IN TAQ -KISRA SITE.

Abstract

A detailed geomagnetic survey has been carried out in Taq-Kisra Archaeological Site, situated in Al-Mada'in city about 32 Km to the southeast of Baghdad. The aim of this survey is to delineate the locations and extensions of the subsurface archaeological structures. The area was covered by 2×2 m net of magnetic measurements, where more than 5260 stations have been measured with an accuracy reached to ±1.8 nT. Total magnetic intensity map of the site has been constructed after applying the necessary corrections on the row data. Generally, the map shows linear magnetic anomalies that have archaeological meaning. The range of the achieved magnetic anomalies is (15 – 24) nT. Trenches for excavations have been suggested for checking the obtained magnetic anomalies, where ten places have been assigned on the total magnetic intensity map for this purpose. The results of the excavations showed good accordance between the observed magnetic anomalies and the causative sources, represented by archaeological features. The archaeological structures that came by excavations are: the main mure, walls, floor, base of column and other archaeological remains. These have depths ranging between (0.25 – 2) m and they are built with clayey burned bricks, which have red and yellow colors. A map, which shows the suggested tracks and areas for future excavations in the site, is enclosed in this report.