APPLICATION OF NON-INVASIVE GEOPHYSICAL TECHNIQUES TO THE EXPLORATION OF PREHISTORIC SITES IN ALENTEJO: 3 CASES STUDIES

Abstract

More and more archaeologists are realizing the need to study archaeological sites using non-destructive/intrusive methods, giving importance to geophysical prospection techniques. In Portugal, the use of these methodologies for archaeological purposes (and by archaeologists) is still in its first steps. The present work aims to present the results obtained through the use of Georradar in three Neolithic and Chalcolithic archaeological sites in central Alentejo: Menir do Patalou (Nisa), Menir do Monte da Caeira (Vimieiro) and Povoado de Santa Cruz 13 (Brotas). The methodology of geophysical data acquisition was defined according to the type and chronology of the archaeological sites. In this paper we present the results obtained and a brief reflection on the future of non-intrusive methods in archaeology.