Magnetometry for Archaeologists: (Geophysical Methods for Archaeology)

Magnetometry for Archaeologists covers the most widely used method for archaeological surveying. Authors Arnold Aspinall, Chris Gaffney, and Armin Schmidt recount the history of magnetometers from their inception through today's state-of-the-art detectors, explain the physics behind the different types of sensors, and describe the most fruitful ways in which the technology can be employed. They also consider the theoretical and practical uses of magnetometry from for many archaeological periods and regions. The reader learns exactly what magnetometry measures, and how knowledge gained from it influences the ways in which surveys are undertaken. The authors also discuss the potential for and the problems associated with the use, display, and interpretation of buried remains. View the book's Acknowledgments.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Concepts Chapter 2. Magnetometers Chapter 3. Magnetic Anomalies and Sources of Noise Chapter 4. Data Collection; Some Practical Problems and Solutions Chapter 5. Processing and Displaying Magnetometer Data Chapter 6. Archaeology and the Interpretation of Magnetometer Data Chapter 7. Magnetometry and Archaeological Prospecting - The Future

About the Author :
Arnold Aspinall is honorary professor in archaeological sciences at the University of Bradford. Chris Gaffney is lecturer at the University of Bradford and editor ofArchaeological Prospection. Armin Schmidt is senior lecturer at the University of Bradford, where he leads the Archaeological Prospection Research Group.

Review :
The goal of the. . . book, Magnetometry for Archaeologists, is 'to establish a framework for the significance and understanding of magnetometry with respect to archaeological investigation' (p. 179). The author's goal is clearly met by this book. ... This book is clearly written and well-illustrated. . . all aspects of the images are explained in the caption, including scale, direction of north, and color ramp. By providing a more in-depth treatment of the subject than can be found in general texts, this book is directed at both those with little or no background knowledge and those who want to probe more deeply into the subject. Despite the complexity of the subject, the authors have clearly gone to great pains to make it accessible to non-specialists. It will no doubt find its place amongst other formative texts on archaeological geophysics. It covers the subject in a clear and coherent manner and should be welcomed for that reason alone. A strong introduction to magnetic survey for archaeologists with emphasis on basic magnetic concepts, magnetometer sensor configurations, practical field issues and survey design. The origin and nature of archaeo-magnetic fields and their appearance as "anomalies" in the data is made clear. The numerous data processing and display steps required to render a graphic suitable for archaeological interpretation are described. Archaeological interpretation of magnetic data is addressed in the context of survey case studies. Readable and to the point, this is a useful contribution for archaeologists on a subject that at its core is both multidisciplinary and complex.