Resistivity Survey

 

             The  resistivity   method  exploits   the   different electrical coductivity of the  archaeological structures respect to that of the sourrounding soil. The different electrical properties of the  structure compared to  ones  of   the  soil,  determine   the  appearance  of  resistivity anomalies.    Structures such  as   walls, foundations,  roods,   cavities   are   poor  conductors;  while  graves, ditches,  pits are   usually good conductors. In the  first  case  a positive   anomaly is  generated,   in the  second  one a negative anomaly results.  Many different electrode   arrays  are  used, according to the  kind  of archaeological  structure, its  dimension and depth; sometimes  the result of a resistivity surveying can depend on  geological and climatic conditions.

 

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RESISTIVITY SURVEY AT ADRIA
( VENETO REGION )

Prior to a building  construction,  an area
of the  Hospital   of   Adria    (a  town of archaeological interest) suspected to hide archaeological structures   was  explored. The resitivity method   with  the   Wenner electrode configuration  was    chosen. In the   3-D    electrical  resistivity  map   the anomaly    produced   by   remains   of   a building is clearly visible.
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RESISTIVITY SURVEY AT VENETO VILLA GRITTI AT THE TOWN OF TREVISO
(VENETO REGION)

The survey was carried out to verify the underground presence of the fondations of a rustic building.
Due to the impossibility of digging, the resistivity and radar methods were used. The anomalies (pointed out by arrows) produced  by  foundations  are   clearly visible  in  the  2-D  and  3-D electrical resistivity  maps.  The results  obtained using  radar method are   also  valid,  as shown in the section dedicated to radar survey.
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RESISTIVITY SURVEY AT
CAMPAGNA LUPIA (VENICE)

With the aim  to  improve  the knowledge about the structures already localized with the   magnetic   survey,  a   campaign  of resistivity measurements was planned. The need to employ another geophysical method was justified by  the  fact that not all   the   materials  usually   used to erect buildings   can     be    detected   by   the magnetometer.     In   the  resistivity   map
the small  cell   on   the   western side  of the building is clearly visible; the walls are less  visible  and  there is no indication of the presence of inner walls.

 

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