The writing's in the wall: A review of new preliminary applications of electrical resistivity tomography within archaeology

Mol, L.; Preston, P. R.

Abstract

Natural processes are known to cause significant damage to archaeological monuments. In fact, the key to understanding the decay of building materials is the internal movement of water through the mineral matrix, which influences the distribution of chemical, physical and biological deterioration processes. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) was traditionally used as a surveying tool within archaeology, but a new high-resolution technique that accurately traces the movement of moisture in building materials could provide a vital tool for understanding the decay of many archaeological monuments. This paper considers current progress, the shift of ERT from soil to rock research and the impact that this development could have on future conservation, using Hertford College (Oxford) and Neolithic rock art (Golden Gate Reserve, South Africa) as case studies. © University of Oxford, 2010.

Citation

Mol, L., & Preston, P. R. (2010). The writing's in the wall: A review of new preliminary applications of electrical resistivity tomography within archaeology. Archaeometry, 52(6), 1079-1095. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4754.2010.00516.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 22, 2010
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2010
• Deposit Date: Jan 6, 2017
• Journal: Archaeometry
• Print ISSN: 0003-813X
• Electronic ISSN: 1475-4754
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 52
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1079-1095
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4754.2010.00516.x
• Keywords: electrical resistivity tomography, building materials,; resistivity, world heritage, conservation, weathering processes, South Africa, Jordan
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/972924
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4754.2010.00516.x