Comprehensive Geophysical Studies at the Suzdal Opolye Settlements

Comprehensive Geophysical Studies at the Suzdal Opolye Settlements

DOI: 10.17746/1563-0110.2017.45.2.062-070

I.V. Zhurbin¹ and A.N. Fedorina^2
1Physico-Technical Institute, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kirova 132, Izhevsk, 426000, Russia
²Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Dm. Ulyanova 19, Moscow, 117036, Russia

Rural landscapes, especially those affected by plowing, mostly reveal no outward signs of archaeological sites. Best-preserved parts of buildings are cellars, utility pits, and other underground objects not visually observable on the surface. A new strategy is proposed for gaining preliminary information about the outlines and inner structures of medieval settlements of that type. It is based on a comparison of geophysical findings with those of drilling, pilot excavations, and tendencies in the distribution of surface finds. The application of this strategy to the study of various types of medieval unfortified sites in the Suzdal Opolye, central Russia, including large settlements (Kibol-5, Shekshovo-2, and Bolshoye Davydovskoye-2), a stratified site (Ves-5), and small unstratified sites (Vishenki-3 and Kistysh-3), demonstrates its efficiency. Specifically, magnetic survey has allowed us to delineate the borders of the settlements, locate densely inhabited areas, production complexes, and sometimes pits. Electr ical survey proves more efficient for assessing spatial characteristics (size and shape) of sites. The excavation area, however, is selected according to the magnetic prospecting data.

Keywords: Suzdal Opolye, Middle Ages, rural settlements, magnetic prospecting, electrical prospecting, groundpenetrating radar, research methods.