Archeology
- The SQUID based archaeometry system moved by a Jeep.
The mapping of the Earth’s magnetic field or field gradient is a proven method in surface exploration and archeometry. Cs vapour magnetometers show the best magnetic field resolution of commercial devices, but their sampling frequency is limited to 10Hz. Using SQUIDs it would be possible to achieve the same or even better magnetic field resolution with a sampling frequency as high as 100Hz or more. This should allow significantly shorter measurement time, which is essential for the mapping of large objects.
The complete system, using separately suspended wheels for smooth movement, can either be moved by feet or driven with a Jeep.
- North-eastern corner of a Neolithic double ring ditch near Weimar, Germany.
In the present status the system has two channels, each with a highly balanced LTS SQUID gradiometer. The two dewars with liquid Helium are protected by red plastic tubes. A magnetic field gradient resolution of about 20 fTpp/cm is achieved.
The position is recorded on-line with a differential GPS system. The antennas for position acquisition and fort he radionreception of the reference station’s signals are mounted on top of the system. A position resolution in the centimeter range results.
For the recalculation of the SQUID’s position from the GPS antenne position an inertial system is incorporated.
All data are available on-line – viewed on a laptop – on are registred in a data logger.
With this system fast movement is possiple, always yielding an exact allocation of the measured magnetic field gradient data with respect to Earth referenced position.
As a by-product, also the altitude map of the scanned area is availabe.
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