Magnetic Response in the Discovery of Archaeological Artifacts and

Magnetic Response in the Discovery of
Archaeological Artifacts and
Monuments in Gandhara, Pakistan
Dr. M.M. Nordiana
Senior lecturer, Geophysics Section, School of Physics, 11800 Universiti Sains
Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia e-mail: mmnordiana@usm.my
Dr. Mokhtar Saidin
Professor, Centre for Global Archeological Research Malaysia, 11800 Universiti
Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia e-mail:mmokh@usm.my
Shyeh Sahibul Karamah Masnan
Research officer, Centre for Global Archeological Research Malaysia, 11800
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia e-mail: syehsa@gmail.com
Dr. Rosli Saad
Senior Lecturer, Geophysics Section, School of Physics, 11800 Universiti Sains
Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia e-mail:rosli@usm.my
I.N. Azwin
Postgraduate Student, Geophysics Section, School of Physics, 11800 Universiti
Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia e-mail: nurazwinismail@yahoo.com
Noer El Hidayah Ismail
Postgraduate Student, Geophysics Section, School of Physics, 11800 Universiti
Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia e-mail: noerelhidayah@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The ancient region of Gandhara has produced evidence that unusual and interesting, both in terms of
archeology and history. The main objective of this research is to find out about the early development
of Hinduism in Gandhara, rebuild prehistory after Kushana period, and build a chronology of history
through scientific excavation. Thus, the gradiomagnetic survey was conducted at Kashmir smast
(monastery) to see the magnetic response of the buried structure at the study area. The magnetic survey
was performed using GEM System GSM 190T with the number of 296 stations and the spacing
between stations was randomly scattered. The magnetic data was processed by utilizing Microsoft
excels and Surfer8 software which was displayed in a form of contouring and revealed low residual
zones between -1 to 1.5 nT/m which causing the magnetic anomalies. . The results of low magnetic
values (-1 to 1.5 nT/m) indicated a distribution of the building structure with the depth of 3 m within
the study area. These anomaly features are detected according to the magnetic contrast with the
surrounding. Gradiomagnetic method is powerful tool to obtain useful information about underground
for archaeological artifacts and monuments.
KEYWORDS:
Gandhara, Archaeology, Artifacts, Monuments, Magnetic, Anomaly
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INTRODUCTION
Kashmir Smast site has been studied for the first time in the first half of the 19th century by the
researcher A. Europe, and has been recorded in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1839.
After that, several visits were made by different researchers to the few monuments in the area.
However, the first serious scientific expedition was carried out by Pakistan-Japan team in 1959.
Seiichi Mizuno from Kyoto University have conducted studies in Kashmir Smast cave in 1959 in
collaboration with the Department of Archaeology, Pakistan. He has recorded detailed notes and
prepares a sketch plan of the cave. This is a general study of caves and monuments that are in the
cave, and includes a monastery complex in front of the cave. The results of this work were published
in 1961 under the title "Haibak and Kashmir Smast (Buddhist caves-temples in Afghanistan and
Pakistan, surveyed in 1960)". The study has concluded that Kashmir is a site Smast Buddhist temple
in the cave.
This site is important to the history of the world more than reason. First, it was the site of the
oldest so far with the monastic establishment Shaivadi region. Moreover, the earliest documents
written (epigraphy) mention LajjaGauri, a Hindu goddess, who actually comes from this area. Shaiva
sect practicing sustainable and long-lasting, and worship other religions that are practiced candy also
contribute to the important features of the rest of this site (Mokhtar et al., 2013).
This objective of this paper is to map the magnetic anomalies major sites in Kashmir Smast, including
Monastery site in Gandhana, Kashmir (Pakistan) using gradiomagnetic methods.
THEORY OF MAGNETIC
The magnetic method measures the intensity of the natural magnetic field. This includes
contribution from the earth’s core and crust, as well as any secondary magnetic field induced in
magnetic geological bodies, which locally creates positive and negative magnetic field anomalies.
Those anomalies are the target of a magnetic survey for geological or archaeological purposes.
For low magnetic fields, magnetization J is proportional to the magnetizing field H:
J = κH
Where κ, is called the magnetic susceptibility. Susceptibility is fundamental rock parameter of
magnetics propsecting. Magnetic response of rocks is determined by amounts and susceptibilities of
constituent minerals. Oxidation can affect expected magnetic response of certain rocks (Thomson and
Oldfield, 1986).
PREVIOUS STUDY
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The Sungai Batu archaeological area is believed to be earliest and religious center in Malaysia
and a high-potential archaeological area where scientists search for signs of civilization with the aim
of locating archaeological remains and characterizing the shallow subsurface geology in a nondestructive manner. A geophysical investigation including magnetometer and electrical resistivity
tomography (ERT) techniques was carried out at an unexplored site in Sungai Batu, northwest
Malaysia by Moussavi Alashloo et al., 2011. The magnetometer survey was performed using a G-856
proton precession magnetometer over 15 profiles. The magnetometer results displayed two main
anomalies which had a high magnetic value, indicating buried structures. The ERT survey was
designed in 5 profiles employing a pole-dipole array. The ERT data was processed by utilizing the
smoothness constrained least-squares inversion which revealed three main layers of alluvium soil
mixed with sand and clay, saturated zone and bedrock layer. An excavation test, conducted by
archaeologists, confirmed the geophysical results. The joint analyses of magnetic and ERT data
demonstrated that geophysical technique is powerful tools to obtain useful information about
underground for planning a fast, cost-effective and environmentally friendly archaeological
prospecting.
The territory of Montescaglioso (Basilicata, South Italy) is characterized by the distribution of
many ancient settlements: one of them is an important village dated to Classica Age known as
Pagliarone. Due to the extension and importance of this settlement, we used a field research strategy
including an intensive intrasite archaeological survey with a specific grid system for the
documentation and the collection of archaeological evidence. The application of this field method and
the specific spatial analysis applied during the post processing of the data, allowed us to determine
not only the extent and limits of the archaeological site, but also the precise location and density of
the artifacts and to focus on the distribution of quantitative and qualitative classes of artifacts. Beside
the direct field research, an interdisciplinary approach was used, which provides various techniques
like the combination of intrasite survey and the magnetic mapping for the geophysical exploration in
the archaeological area. The geophysical prospection was performed using Geomagnetic with
gradiometer system with high resolution data. The acquired magnetic data were processed and
compared with the field archaeological survey data, showing an optimum image of buried structures,
other functional spaces together with the various density artifacts, mostly belonging to Archaic,
Classical and Hellenistic periods (Roubis et al., 2011).
Dahshour area was remarkable from the latest discovery of the causeway and the mortuary temple
of the Pyramid of Amenemhat III using geophysical data (Mahmoud et al., 2013). The main objective
of the present work is to locate the buried archeological remains in the area of Dahshour, Southwest
Cairo using magnetic survey for shallow investigations. Land magnetic data is acquired using proton
magnetometer (two sensors) with a sensor separation of 0.8 m; i.e. gradiometer survey. The study
area is located nearby the two known pyramids of Dahshour. The field data is processed and analyzed
using Oasis Montaj Geosoft™ software. The processed data is presented in order to delineate the
hidden artifacts causing the magnetic anomalies. The results indicated a distribution of the buried
archeological features within the study area. The delineated archeological features at Dahshour are
probably dated back to the old kingdom having a depth reach up to 3.0 m. Consequently it is highly
recommended to carry out excavation to precisely classify them and high light their nature and value.
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GENERAL GEOLOGY
The Kashmir Smast caves, also called Kashmir Smats, are a series of natural limestone caves,
artificially expanded from the Kushan to the Shahi periods, situated in the Babozai and Pirsai
mountains in the Mardan Valley in Northern Pakistan.
The most important source material is the Sukkur and Rohri limestone hills, where long chert
cores, six by two and half inches long, have been found. It is again here that long ribbon flakes were
originally made and transported to other sites. These flakes have been traced in a number of sites in
Sind. Gordon (1958) has also reported microlithic finds in the vicinity of Taxila and Rawalpindi; but
he is certainly wrong when he talks of Jamalgarhi cave. There is no cave near the Buddhist ruins at
Jamalgarhi. The nearest cave traceable is situated about two miles away from Jamalgarhi on way to
the rock-cut Buddhist cave of Kashmir-smast. It is here that there find the microlithic finds talked of
by Gordon. This find is not an isolated phenomenon in this region
STUDY AREA
This site has been named as Kashmir Smast which means "Great Cave" and located
approximately 50 km north-east of the town of Mardan, in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
(Figure 1). Located at an altitude of 1100 m above sea level, the cave entrance has a size of 20 m
wide and 20 m high. There is an opening at the back entrance, with elevation of 20 m, while the
height of the main hall is 33 m. The total length of the cave is about 200 m. Entrance to the cave is
through the stone steps along the 100 m, down a steep cliff (Photo 1). The study area was divided into
two regions which are region A and region B (Figure 2 and Photo 2).
Figure 1: The position in the landscape of the study area in Gandhara civilization.
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Photo 1: The path used to climb to the Great Cave Smast Kashmir. This path is very steep, 100 m
along the narrow stairs. There is the impression of an ancient staircase that was built as early as 2,000
years ago.
Region A
Region B
Figure 2: Magnetic survey map in Monastery Kashmir smast area.
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Photo 2: Smast monastery region of Kashmir, which has been largely affected by mining
activities by locals treasure. The mapping of magnetic anomalies indicate Region A (pictured
left) has a low potential anomalies, as compared to Region B (right picture).
METHODOLOGY
The study is involved in archaeology subsurface investigations. Due to the archaeological study,
magnetic method was designed with close line to achieve good accuracy in the determination
anomaly features of the subsurface. A gradiomagnetic survey was carried out with the randomly
scattered moving station to cover the survey area. A total of 296 stations were conducted directed
towards northwest-southeast orientation. The master grid provided a full magnetic map for easy
display of the anomalies and allows the data to be processed using Surfer8 software. The
measurements were performed using GEM System GSM 190T in gradiometer configuration, with two
magnetic probes set in a vertical direction at a distance of 0.6 m each other. Such configuration
allowed the automatic removal of the diurnal variations of the natural magnetic field. First step in
magnetic processing was inspecting raw data for spikes, gaps, instrument noise or any irregularities in
the data. The next step involved diurnal variation correction and IGRF correction to produce magnetic
residual. Once corrections were done, the data were exported into a grid file to the Surfer8 software.
After calculating a grid from xyz data in Surfer8, magnetic residual was carried out to produce
contour maps.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The monastery surface area in the southern part of the cave door Smast Kashmir has found a
variety of structures which are still intact, but mostly disturbed by mining activities treasures by local
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people and the weather. The study of magnetic anomalies on two main areas of focus, namely Region
A and Region B. Region A has demonstrated a pattern of magnetic anomalies in the low range, which
is about -1 to 1.5 nT / m (Figure 3). Anomalies in Region A, particularly in the northwest (12
stations) show that it is parallel to the presence of structures that can be seen on the surface. Region B
also shows the existence of structures with different depths, reaching a maximum depth of 3 meters.
Magnetometer survey results clearly show that Region B has potential for archaeological excavations
to be carried out systematically.
Region A
Region B
Figure 3: Magnetic anomaly in “Monastery” Kashmir smast.
CONCLUSSION
Kashmir monastery area Smast: Region A shows anomalies parallel to the surface discoveries
(the remains of the structure). Section B also shows more interesting anomaly patterns, with
structures that are still in a state of in-situ even been compromised as a result of mining activities
treasures (at a depth of about 2-3 meters). The archaeological excavations are appropriate to be
carried out systematically in this area.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The research activities were conducted in a framework of collaboration through collaborative
agreements, Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for scientific archaeological research in Kashmir
Smast with the Centre for Global Archaeological Research (CGAR), Universiti Sains Malaysia
(USM) and University of Peshawar (UOP). The authors also thank to the International Research
Collaboration (IReC) for sponsoring the research activities.
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REFERENCES
1. Gordon, D. H. (1958), “Microlithic industries in India, in Man, 38(19), Prehistoric
Background of Indian Culture,” Bombay.
2. Mahmoud, M., Tarek, A. H. and Tareq, A. (2013), “Detailed magnetic survey at
Dahshour archaeological sites Southwest Cairo, Egypt,” NRIAG Journal of Astronomy
and Geophysics, 2, 1, 175-183.
3. Mokhtar, S. (2013) Report of Research Activities At The Pakistan Moa University Of
Science Malaysia (Usm) and University of Peshawar (UOP).
4. Moussavi Alashloo, S. Y., Rosli, S., Nawawi, M. N. M, Mokhtar, S. and Alashloo, M.
(2011), “Magnetic and 2D Electrical Imaging Methods to investigate an archaeological
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archaeological intrasite survey and geomagnetic prospection. A methodologicall
approach for the archaeological site of Pagliarone (Basilicata – South Italy).
6. Thomson, R. and Oldfield, F. (1986), “ Environmental magnetism,” London Allen and
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