Birka and Hovgården


Publications

First High‐resolution GPR and Magnetic Archaeological Prospection at the Viking Age Settlement of Birka in Sweden

2014 — Article — WHE0ACDFC96BD

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetic gradiometer surveys at Birka, a UNESCO-listed Viking Age settlement in Sweden, revealed intricate structural details of the proto-urban site. The non-invasive geophysical methods mapped houses, property boundaries, pathways, and buried town ramparts from multiple construction phases, including a gate. This pioneering 2006 study demonstrated the effectiveness of high-resolution GPR and magnetometry for archaeological prospection in Scandinavian contexts, combining state-of-the-art data processing with GIS-based interpretation to uncover new insights about Birka-Hovgården's layout and development.

Efficient, large‐scale archaeological prospection using a true three‐dimensional ground‐penetrating Radar Array system

2010 — Article — WHE650BE38761

A ground-penetrating radar (GPR) array system demonstrated the capability to conduct high-resolution, large-scale archaeological surveys at unprecedented speed and resolution. The true three-dimensional MIRA system surveyed 1 hectare or more per day with an 8 cm cross-line spacing, revealing fine details such as postholes of only 25 cm diameter at Birka, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in Sweden. This pilot study, conducted in collaboration with the Swedish National Heritage Board, showcased the potential of advanced GPR technology for efficient and detailed archaeological prospection at complex Scandinavian sites.

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