VLF-EM study for archaeological investigation of the labyrinth mortuary temple complex at Hawara area, Egypt

Abstract

The present study is a test of the applicability of the VLF-EM method in archaeological prospecting. The Hawara area is about 90 km south of Cairo and is the location of an important archaeological site known as the labyrinth mortuary temple complex, situated south of the Hawara pyramid. No official excavations have been carried out in the labyrinth complex since 1911. VLF-EM was employed in this study using a small grid, 2 m between profiles and stations. The measured data were interpreted using Fraser and Karous-Hjelt filters. Two-dimensional (2D) resistivity cross-sections have been calculated inverting VLF-EM data in a quantitative manner. A three-dimensional (3D) resistivity inversion scheme has been applied to a grid of nine Schlumberger vertical electrical soundings to provide information on the resistivity of the shallow and deep structures in the study area. Results show a large group of elongated and square subsurface anomalies at shallow depths, connected in some parts and separated in others. The spatial distribution of the anomalies significantly matches a historical description by Herodotus. © 2010 European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers.