Scope of Work:
GPR survey execution for mapping of potential locations containing archaeological features underneath for excavation purposes
Location:
Dholavira, Gujarat, India.
Client:
Archaeological Survey of India
Equipment:
GSSI SIR-3000 equipped with 100, 200 MHz and 400 MHz antenna
Challenges:
Data analysis and interpretation for uncertain archaeological features was a big challenge
Summary:
A new area at an existing archaeological site of
Harappan civilization at Dholavira, Gujarat, India has
been studied using ground penetrating radar (GPR).
An area of 12,276 m2 was surveyed using 200 MHz antenna
at grid spacing of 2–3 m. The soil strata was
found to extend mainly up to 3.5–4 m. The survey was
conducted during the dry season to collect good signals.
Post-processing was carried out to map the bedrock
as well as archaeological features. A number of
linear features were observed from the 3D image of
the subsurface created from the acquired GPR profiles.
Unlike residential structures, the large dimensions
of these features indicate the likely existence of a
series of water structures that may have partly collapsed
due to floods at some point. There were some
areas full of rubble next to the damaged walls that
appeared to be orthogonal to the direction of possible
flood from Manhar River.