Archaeogeophysical field campaign in Dölauer Heide

07.12.-08.12.2022 | In the Dölauer Heide, a forested area just outside of Halle, a diverse ensemble of archaeological monuments can be found, including a considerable number of burial mounds (“tumuli”) from the time of the Corded Ware culture (about 2800 to 2200 BC). While some of these monuments have already been excavated, others remain recognizable only as slight elevations in the landscape. Geoelectrical methods offer the possibility to explore these objects in a non-destructive manner and thus to investigate, for example, the presence of interior stone graves. Therefore, a geoelectrical measuring campaign was carried out by a team of our working group on 07.12. and 08.12.2022 – this was done in cooperation with the Saxony-Anhalt State Office for the Preservation of Monuments and Archaeology (“Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie”), which is responsible for the maintenance of the burial mounds and supported us with great commitment. Despite difficult weather conditions, we were able to successfully carry out the measurements and obtain high-quality data. On the longest of the three selected profiles crossing the tumuli, we were even able to record Induced Polarization data, which complements conventional geoelectrical data and provides more detailed information about the subsurface. In addition, an accurate levelling was performed to integrate the topographic information into the geophysical dataset. In the first preliminary results, the tumuli can already be clearly delineated from the surrounding area and first indications of possible grave structures can be seen. A detailed analysis of the entire dataset will take place in the upcoming weeks, which may provide even more insights into these important archaeological monuments.