Unlocking Multifunctional Insights with Near-Surface Geophysical Data Harmonization in Archaeology - MUFUDAT.archaeo

Description

Near-surface geophysical methods are used in both archaeology and agriculture because they provide high-resolution data on soil structures and properties quickly and cost-effectively, thereby aiding in the localization of archaeological finds and the reconstruction of landscape development. With advances in sensor-based terrain mapping and AI-supported analyses, the volume and complexity of such datasets will continue to increase.

The TRAIL “MUFUDAT.archaeo” aims to transfer geophysical datasets from precision agriculture to (geo)archaeological research questions and constitutes the second phase of the overarching initiative “Multifunctional Data in a Multifunctional Landscape,” a cross-consortium partnership between FAIRagro, NFDI4Objects, and NFDI4Earth.

The TRAIL is based on electromagnetic induction and gamma spectroscopy as exemplary methods from precision agriculture to demonstrate a structured workflow and further develop data integration processes. Furthermore, the approach tested within the FAIRagro framework (UC14 MUFUDAT.agrio) is methodologically expanded to include ground-penetrating radar, with a particular focus on the development and testing of an archive data container. The workflow thus comprises three central components: data collection, processing (including QA/QC), and archiving procedures.