Interpretation and Guidelines for Reporting

Abstract

The archaeological interpretation of geophysical data is the decisive link regarding a successful transaction of science and humanities. The required tool kit for a serious archaeological interpretation of geophysical data has to encompass a general interest in the physical expressions of human activity, an understanding of natural and anthropogenic origins of shaping landscapes and an overall view on archaeological categories and terms. Thus, a useful interpretation has to be proved by embedding it into the context of a man-made landscape. Mutual trust and transparency between geophysicists and archaeologists are the best concepts for an optimal flow of information benefiting for both disciplines. If all the mentioned requirements can be matched, the geophysical prospection in archaeological research becomes a real interdisciplinary approach. Besides the interpretation, the reporting on field measurements, data processing and interpretation are self-evident necessities. The quality of reporting and archiving the data is crucial for a long-term usability of the data and the derived knowledge. The inescapable evanescence of archaeological remains caused by intensive agriculture, mining and construction activity of man will make many datasets of today to priceless evidence of human history in the future.