Magnetic Gradiometry Survey at the Urban Centre of Türkmen‐Karahöyük (Turkey)

Abstract

The understanding of urban centres in the ancient Near East, one of the main regions for investigating the development of cities, has been transformed in recent years through investigations using archaeological geophysical prospection tools. This paper presents results of our recent magnetic gradiometry survey at the large urban site of Türkmen‐Karahöyük (Konya Plain, Turkey) conducted using a SENSYS Magneto MXPDA cart‐based system. Results of the survey have successfully identified and characterized numerous areas of ancient settlement, industrial activity and burials across the massive site, offering new insights into the history of occupation at Türkmen‐Karahöyük. Our findings are thereby helping to shape future investigations at the site and, more broadly, demonstrate the opportunities and challenges presented by cart‐based geophysical survey instruments for archaeological investigations of mounded urban sites with extensive lower towns.