A Magnetic survey at Histria Necropolis

Abstract

Near surface geophysical methods are used in archaeology to estimate the distribution, depth, form and physical properties of the buried features before digging. For studying the burial mounds from the Histria necropolis was chosen the micromagnetic method conducted with a proton procession magnetometer in rectangular panels with a sampler interval of 2 m, resulting 16 profiles for each mound. Histria necropolis is located north-west from Histria citadel and is formed from elevated burial mounds with different characteristics and structures. Previous archaeological studies encountered several burial rites, including pyre incineration. These studies revealed even metallic remains of the actual pyre and a burnt shaly horizon with an increased magnetic susceptibility. The magnetic maps of the two studied burial mounds indicate a very complex archaeological situation, also distinguished in the actual archaeological diggings. There are some anomalous aspects that could correspond to some ceramic fragments, to greenshists used to mound building and to some metallic objects such as shields or darts. The presence of metallic objects and ceramics within the burial mounds was strongly connected to afterlife belief.