The contribution of geophysics to archaeology: a case study of an ancient canal of the Oc Eo culture in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Journal Title: Geology, Geophysics & Environment - Year 2019, Vol 45, Issue 1
Abstract
Generally, underground ancient canals are infilled with alluvial materials, with the canal bed and substrate often having different resistivity values. This study aimed to determine the location and morphology of Malleret’s ancient canal 16 located to the southeast of the Ba The mountain, Mekong Delta, Vietnam by means of geophysical techniques. Two geophysical methods were used: electromagnetic profile and electric resisitivity tomography. A geoelectric structure 70 m long with 70–95 mS/m of apparent conductivity was found. On the electrical resistivity tomography section, a resistivity zone of 10–20 Ω∙m, 1–4 m deep, 70 m wide corresponds to the mentioned above geoelectric structure, which is in an asymmetric U-shape extending toward the southeast-ern bank of canal 16. Hand-augering confirmed that the canal bed is fully incised into Holocene sediments as a substrate which stretches down to the Pleistocene. The sediments are composed of loams mixed with plant re-mains with a resistivity ρ ~ 10–15 Ω∙m. Both of the canal banks at a depth of 5 m are made up of Holocene sedi-ments (ρ ~ 4–10 Ω∙m). The 14C measurements determined the age of the organic matter in the canal as being equal to 1210 ±85 BP, suggesting canal 16 ceased being operational at that time. The precise positioning of canal 16 on the ground surface, as well as identifying the morphology of the canal bed, were corroborated by geophysical techniques. The obtained results are of considerable value to archaeologists.
Authors and Affiliations
Ngoc Thanh Le, Quang Dung Nguyen, Quang Bac Nguyen, Quang Mien Nguyen, Dan Vu Nguyen, Ba Man Duong, Dinh Chau Nguyen
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP572630
- DOI 10.7494/geol.2019.45.1.45
- Views 103
- Downloads 0
New data on celestine-rich salts in the Wieliczka salt deposits
Pale brownish celestine-rich salt rocks were found near the Franciuszek Müller gallery, in the chambers of the 3rd level in the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The complex of rock salts subjected to exploration occurred within a la...
Metamorphic conditions of the omphacite-garnet gneiss from Otrøy, Western Gneiss Region, Scandinavian Caledonides
The Western Gneiss Region (WGR) is one of the Earth’s most studied ultra-high pressure (UHP) terranes. It consists of continental crustal rocks that host e.g. coesite-bearing eclogites and diamond-bearing garnet-pyroxeni...
Applying image mining to the analysis of rock structure images
Obtaining, storing and sharing geological digital data in a form of images have been influenced by the dynamic development of information technology. Due to the fact that the multimedia data is not connected with a give...
Visualization of mining and geological data based on coal mine KWK “Knurów-Szczygłowice” Ruch “Knurów”
The aim of this work was to create a 3D model of underground workings of fragment coal mine KWK “Knurów-Szczygłowice” Ruch “Knurów” for 550 m and 650 m level. The 3D model has been developed on basis of the digital, two-...
Using on-line analyzers and RAC parameters to determine the amount of TN and TP pollutants discharged from Poland into the Baltic Sea
Despite the numerous measures taken to protect its environment for many years, Poland is among the top countries with the largest contributing share in the pollution of the Baltic Sea. It is undoubtedly the case that we...