SURFACE GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND PRELIMINARY EXCAVATIONS AT THE DIVRIGI CITADEL, SIVAS (TURKEY)

Abstract

A geophysical survey including magnetic and electromagnetic conductivity survey were made on the Divrigi Citadel in Sivas, Turkey. Eight areas were surveyed according to archaeologists’ suggestions for the initial geophysical research. Derivatives of the magnetic data provide well identified images. There were two circular anomalies with 7-7.5 m in diameter and probably a buried channel anomaly with 9 m length. A schematic image map was prepared for next excavation campaign and interpreted as snow wells for this area. ElectroMagnetic Conductivity Profiler Survey (EM-CPS) measurements were made on the some low intensity anomalies in two areas. In these measurements, conductivity and in-phase quantity values were recorded. There was a good correlation between magnetic anomalies and conductivity measurements. A conductive area (19-28 milliSiemens per meter, mSm-1) overlies the magnetic anomaly with low intensity. A trench is excavated and that excavation allowed us to reveal the geophysical survey results. Preliminary results show that the Divrigi Citadel could be used as the workshop area. Correlation of geophysical surveying and the excavation results show that the geophysical data and advanced processing methods are valuable tools to gather spatial information about individual buried archaeological objects.