Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Mohamed Salem Al-Aaser
Professor
Archaeogeophysical investigation using magnetic and GPR surveys at Tal-Baltus, Menofia Governorate, Egypt
Geosciences Journal GJ • 2023
Publication Information
Authors
Ahmed Khalil1,2*, Khamis Mansour1,2, Ahmed El Kotb1, Hesham Zahra3, Tareq Fahmy Abdallatif1, Mohamed Salem3, and Marwa Shaheen1
Keywords
Not Available
Journal
Geosciences Journal GJ
Publisher
The Association of Korean Geoscience Societies and Springer 2023
Volume
Not Available
Issue
1226-4806
Pages
Not Available
publication.type
International
Paper Link
Open Link
Supplementary Materials
Not Available
Abstract
An integrated geophysical survey using land magnetic and ground penetrating radar (GPR) methods was conducted to
investigate the archaeological findings and ancient cultural relics at an undiscovered 100 m × 60 m in Tal-Baltus in El-Sadat city, Menofia Governorate, Egypt. The study area at Tal-Baltus was chosen among several archaeological hills in the Menofia governorate due
to its archaeological significance in the Greco-Roman history of Egypt. The total area was first surveyed using the magnetic method,
and then two small promising sites within this area were selected for the GPR survey. The obtained magnetic results showed the presence of remarkably high anomalies with different shapes of irregular geometry. Therefore, they are interpreted as ruins of old storage
rooms related to an ancient harbor-shaped structure. Besides, numerous scattered pillars and column heads were also delineated and
matched with remains of granite blocks in abundance in the study area, taking the same trend as the delineated magnetic anomalies.
In addition, the GPR results highlighted several hyperbolas with variable amplitudes and sizes, which have been interpreted as the shallow foundation of a potential ancient harbor made of limestone. The comprehensive interpretation of the integrated magnetic and GPR
surveys strongly suggests that the study area may be a part of an ancient harbor in addition to some other ancillary room-shaped structures used for cargo storage purposes and scattered portions of walls and pillars dating back to the Greco-Roman era.
investigate the archaeological findings and ancient cultural relics at an undiscovered 100 m × 60 m in Tal-Baltus in El-Sadat city, Menofia Governorate, Egypt. The study area at Tal-Baltus was chosen among several archaeological hills in the Menofia governorate due
to its archaeological significance in the Greco-Roman history of Egypt. The total area was first surveyed using the magnetic method,
and then two small promising sites within this area were selected for the GPR survey. The obtained magnetic results showed the presence of remarkably high anomalies with different shapes of irregular geometry. Therefore, they are interpreted as ruins of old storage
rooms related to an ancient harbor-shaped structure. Besides, numerous scattered pillars and column heads were also delineated and
matched with remains of granite blocks in abundance in the study area, taking the same trend as the delineated magnetic anomalies.
In addition, the GPR results highlighted several hyperbolas with variable amplitudes and sizes, which have been interpreted as the shallow foundation of a potential ancient harbor made of limestone. The comprehensive interpretation of the integrated magnetic and GPR
surveys strongly suggests that the study area may be a part of an ancient harbor in addition to some other ancillary room-shaped structures used for cargo storage purposes and scattered portions of walls and pillars dating back to the Greco-Roman era.