Geophysical archaeological prospection
Non-destructive geophysical archaeological prospection methods gain increasing importance in archaeological research and exploration archaeology. Using motorised sensor arrays it has become possible to explore and map large areas efficiently. In particular, high-resolution ground-penetrating radar measurements as well as large-scale magnetometry offer a great potential for the detection, mapping and documentation of buried archaeological remains. In areas covered by water, acoustic prospection methods (side-scan sonar, multibeam sonar, sediment sonar) can be used to investigate the lake bottom or seafloor.
From 2010 until 2024, VIAS has been an important partner of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology. Since 2020, research and development into state-of-the-art geophysical archaeological prospection methods is conducted at VIAS in close collaboration with GeoSphere Austria and other national and international partners.
Multi-channel ground penetrating radar measurement on the island of Amrum as part of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme, organised in cooperation with the universities of Kiel, Ghent, Aarhus and Bratislava in August 2024.