High-resolution electrical resistivity imaging of buried grave in Nif (Olympos) Mountain/Izmir

• Published in: Arabian journal of geosciences 2021-11, Vol.14 (22), Article 2357
• Main Authors: Tezel, Okan, Alp, Hakan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Archaeology; Buried structures; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth science; Earth Sciences; Electrical resistivity; Historic sites; Image resolution; Measurement; Mountains; Original Paper; Surveying; Terracotta; Tomography
• ISSN: 1866-7511; 1866-7538
• DOI: 10.1007/s12517-021-08741-5

Nif Mountain is located approximately at the borders of Kemalpaşa, Torbalı, and Buca districts in the east of Izmir which is located in the west of Turkey. Nif Mountain has three investigated sectors, namely as Dağkızılca, Karamatepe, and Başpınar. Surface investigations were started in 2004. The areas include the surrounding area of the monastery complex in Dağkızılca that belongs to the classic Hellenistic period. Since official excavations can only be carried out in the summer period, some illegal excavations were also encountered in the study area, and it was seen that these illegal excavations destroyed historical remains. Despite the illegal excavations, it is estimated that some ancient ruins and burial areas (Tumulus, chamber tombs, cist graves, terracotta sarcophagus, etc.) expected to be in the Dağkızılca area are still buried. For this purpose, archeo-geophysical research was carried out in the Dağkızılca area using the electric tomography method. We aimed to determine the location and depth of the buried structures and graves, as the geo-electric survey was carried out via Wenner-Alfa array along 8 profiles 1 m apart in two areas. One of them was on top of the illegally excavated grave to test the results of the electrical method. It was observed in the resistivity images that our results were successful in getting an idea of the electrical resistivity anomaly on the grave. To detect a similar anomaly in other untouched parts of the study area, measurements were taken in 7 profiles. An anomaly, similar to obtained from our test profile, was observed in one profile. To test the accuracy of this anomaly, a new measurement was taken by shifting the beginning of the measurement point on the profile. Thus, the findings were tested once again. The exact location of the buried tomb was eventually found. Consequently, this study reveals possible buried remains that cannot be observed from the surface. It was made to quickly display the location, shape, depth, etc. features. Thus, it has been shown that the ruins can be reached more quickly and at a lower cost without deterioration by guiding the archeological studies.