GPR survey for archaeological investigation at Somnath

 

Scope of Work:

Mapping of underground without destruction using Ground penetrating Radar technology to explore potentiallocations for archaeological excavagtions.

Location:

Somnath, Gujarat, India.

Client:

Shree Somnath Trust.

Equipment:

GSSI SIR-3000 equipped with 100 and 200 MHz MHz antenna

Challenges:

Highly challenging in data analysis and interpretation due to uncertainity

Summary:

GPR investigation was carried out at four locations at Somnath and Prabhas Kshetra, Gujarat, India. The four locations include, Gholak Dham, Main gate of Somnath Temple, beside Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel statue inside Temple campus, and near Bhuddhist caves. The total area of around 1100 m2 has been surveyed using GSSI SIR-3000 equipped with 200 MHz and 100MHz centre frequency antennas individually at a grid spacing of 0.6-2.0 m. The antennas of lower frequency were chosen for the investigation with the aim to scan from depth of 2 m to around 12 m. The survey was executed in dry season to acquire good quality signal data. The acquired data is processed appropriately in order to interpret various pre-existing archaeological features. Few linear features, may it be series of relics, or wall of stones, etc. at different depths are obtained in all the Sites. In addition to this, Site-4(near Bhuddhist caves) is found to contain discrete impressions unlike linear features which can be possibly due to the presence of localized targeted objects.

 
GPRcase study-somnath
GPRcase study-somnath
GPRcase study-somnath
GPRcase study-somnath