Regionalistics is a modern science, and its subject does not have a univocal definition. The most common description of regionalistics determines this discipline as an investigation of the objective processes of territorial unities formation. As well as this, economic and political regionalistics are separated. Taking into account that cultural processes could also be investigated by regionalistics and that this subject itself considers an investigation of the territorial unities of the macro-regional, regional and sub-regional levels, we could define a cultural-historical regionalistics. It seems obvious that archaeological regional studies connect with this approach and could form the basis of archaeological regionalistics in future research.

The problem of definition of cultural unities of different levels and their space distribution is very apparent in archaeology. The most interesting processes seem to be the spatial-temporal dynamics of the development of reconstructed societies. This reconstruction should be based on the preliminary allocation and mapping of cultural elements.

There is an instance of the collaboration between archaeologists, anthropologists, linguists, ethnologists in the framework of allocation of historical-cultural areas (Основания регионалистики. СПб., 1999). Here the archaeological culture is considered as an equivalent of the cultural-historical area in spatial aspect (artifact - complex - site - group of sites) and in cultural-historical aspect (attribute - type - ensemble - archeological culture). The mentioned elements could form the basis for spatial analysis made with help of geoinformation systems. The definition of "chronotope" includes the temporal aspect in such analysis. Other approaches for visualization of the data are also available. Selection of the geoinformation technologies depends on aim of research.

Investigation of the cultural contacts in the South-Eastern Europe during the Early Middle Ages with help of the methods of computer mapping (on the basis of amulets)

Amulets carry information concerning the different aspects of ancient human life: their beliefs, roles of sex and age groups and cultural connections. The Alanic metal amulets are also very informative in this case. The article presents the analysis of 617 amulets that were divided into several taxa - groups of discrete objects connected by means of unity of their quality and attributes; because of that they could be separated into a defined taxonomy category (БСЭ).

Many amulets appeared in the Alanic culture via contact with the neighboring tribes. From the Alans these amulets acquired some specific attributes. The standard set of the metal amulets were formed in the 7th-8th cents. AD and include ring-shaped and wheel-shaped, and also solar-moon figurines (53% from the whole), solar-zoomorphic (bird-shaped and rings with the birds' heads) (23.5%), anthropomorphic (11.5%) and zoomorphic (horse-shaped and riders-shaped) (12%) images. The greatest diversity of the amulet forms may be observed in the 8th-9th cents. AD.

According to typology created by V.B. Kovalevskaja the amulets were divided into four large groups mentioned above, and among them 23 taxa were allocated.

The main area of the spatial distribution of the amulets is the territory of the Central Ciscaucasia (from the modern borders of Karachay-Cherkessia to the Upper Terek river). In some cases the area of amulet distribution also falls the territory of modern Chechnya (basically wheel-shaped and ring-shaped with the birds' heads). Most of the variants of amulets appeared in 8th-9th cents., in the Middle Don valley when the Alanic tribes moved to this region (completely excepting the bird-shaped fibulae, all the taxa of anthropomorphic amulets, 4 from 12 taxa of solar-shaped and one from three types of horse-shaped and riders-shaped figurines). A lower quantity of the amulets could be observed in the neighboring areas.

Mapping the taxa shows that some of the amulets appeared among the Alans due to the cultural influences from the Crimea and the Black Sea Point (ring-shaped and anthropomorphic) and from the Byzantine Empire (bird-shape fibulae).

The project of "Kelainai-Apameia Kibotos" was started as an international collaboration between L'Agence nationale de la recherche (France) and Die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Germany) with A.I. Ivantchik, A. von Kienlin and L. Summerer as the heads. The main aim of the project is wide scale research of one of the largest urban centers in the Southern Phrygia - the town of Kelenai, that was renamed to Apamea from the Hellenistic time (territory of the modern town of Dinar, Turkey). This town played the role of royal residence in the Achaemenid epoch - here the palace of Xerxes the Great and the palace with the hunting park of Cyrus II were also situated. In Hellenistic times the famous Treaty of Apamea between Rome and the Seleucid realm was signed here in the palace of Antiochus III. Despite the importance of this site it was never systematically investigated. The first stage of the project (2008-2010) includes an archaeological survey that takes place not only in the territory of the modern Dinar town, but also in its vicinities.

During the project geoinformation technologies were used for collection, analysis and storage of the different kind of information according to spatial attributes. The advantages of such technologies give a possibility to optimize the collection of preliminary data about the archaeological objects situated at the territory of research.

Our field survey could detect and observe more than 300 unknown archaeological sites: large flat and crypt cemeteries, ancient roads, burial mounds, architectural elements of buildings and open settlements. The results obtained during the field investigation were included into GIS.

Samarkand district is situated in the center of Uzbekistan in the valley of Zarafshan on the border of Tadzhikistan; it includes vast plains and low mountain ranges. In vicinities of the Zarafshan valley the unique historical and architectural monuments of ancient towns are concentrated. Investigated territory holds largely undiscovered potential; knowledge of ancestors, history of civilizations that have been changing each other for hundreds of generations. A large agglomeration of homeless hills is a 'storage area' of thousands of objects connected with the deepest past of this land.

Archaeological discoveries made in the Pastdargom district by Soviet and international expeditions in the last decades (Uzbekistan, France, Russia, Italy, USA) gave considerable data on the history of Sogdian architecture; an archaeological survey was made in this territory for investigation of the settled system and its dependence from urban centers. New interesting results were obtained in the Karadarja valley - the southern tributary of the Zarafshan - during the cartographic monitoring of the Pastdargom district.

Thus, investigation of historic landscapes of the Pasdargom district and collected materials of previous research formed a basis for creation of geoinformation system that could be a valuable tool for the study of the settled system of the inhabitants of the Zarafshan valley, and for reconstruction of route of the Great Silk Road that has been an influence upon the appearance of some settlements.

As a result of the analysis of available data the structure of archaeological GIS "Cultural heritage of the Zarafshan valley" was developed. It consists from five thematic blocks, every one of which is characterized by different components of the historic landscape and archaeological data of the Pastdargom district.

It should be noted that during the development of this archaeological GIS and the creation of all the thematic blocks modern program software was used, such as ArcGIS 9.3 and Global Mapper 9.

1. During 1970-1980's the large scale construction of hydromeliorative objects were made, such as Sarpin and Chernozemelje irrigative and flooding systems, or Volga-Chograj channel (with the length of more than 350 km). Since 1978, for the first time in Kalmykiya, remote sensing data was used for effective field survey. It allowed the first archaeological maps of single sites to be created, as well as the large scale map of archaeological monuments of the Kalmykiya Republic. It was the first attempt to estimate the quantity of archaeological objects (burial mounds and roads) in Kalmykiya.

2. In 1997-2005 the project of creation of GIS "Kalmykiya" was started with help of modern computer software. This project is a result of collaboration between "Archaeological laboratory" and "Scientific center of complex monitoring" organizations. All the field surveys of archaeological sites were made on the basis of remote sensing data. First steps were made in creation of a detailed archaeological map of Kalmykiya.

3. From 2006 to 2010 the work on the GIS project "Kalmykiya" was practically stopped. This could be connected with the absence of specialists in GIS technologies amongst local archaeologists. Thus, the task of creating an archaeological GIS of Kalmykiya is still unrealized.

Long time archaeological investigations of the Ancient Rus' medieval towns with anaerobic cultural layers have formed a solid informational potential for complex research of the medieval urban house-hold. However, such investigation is limited in field practice when stratigraphy and objects are fixed according to horizontal artificial layers and remains of wooden constructions are united via building phases. Thus, the is why the main difficulty for complex research of the medieval urban house-hold is the correlation between layers and phases for each archaeological trench, i.e. a correlation between finds and constructions. The paper presents some methods of such correlation that were developed with help of GIS-technologies, and applied to the excavations in the trench of Posoljskij-2006.

Obtained observations on the spatial distribution of mass material give a possibility to start collecting the data on specific traces of everyday life in medieval urban house-hold.

As a whole, using GIS-technologies for investigation of the medieval urban house-hold has considerable potential for research. Adaptation of methods of spatial analysis (or creation of new methods) and approbation of these techniques on different types of archaeological sites seems to be the most necessary task at the moment.

Archival remote sensing data is a valuable source for archaeological research and especially for monitoring of dynamics of changing in the modern conditions of archaeological sites. One of the types of archival remote sensing data was made by American observation satellite CORONA from 1959 to 1972. As a whole eight satellites of the group have made 800 000 analogue photos of the Earth surface with a spatial resolution from 10 to 2 m. In 1995-1996 and 2002 the American government unclassified all the data obtained by CORONA sensors which opens the possibility of using this information in scientific research.

The paper considers the experience of using CORONA satellite data for investigation of archaeological sites that has had a deep anthropogenic influence in 20th cent. The review of characteristics of different sensors and photo parameters, advantages and disadvantages of the system, specific features of the data has been published. The questions of searching and ordering of space shots, their post-processing, rectification and including into archaeological GIS are considered.

The use of remote sensing data, for example, space shots made by sensors of different kind, is one of the most practical and economically efficient solutions for creation of geographical information system. It is especially important in work with the objects of cultural heritage such as archaeological sites (for example burial mounds). Therefore, remote sensing data is very perceptive and useful in such investigations. But, despite great development in the market of commercial remote sensing data (increasing diversity of data, decreasing prices and growing competition between space agencies), space information is comparatively expensive and inaccessible for many potential users.

Several geo-portals / geo-services given an on-line access to space information of high (10-30 m), very high (1-10 m) and super high (less than 1 m) space resolution are very effective for using remote sensing data in the GIS independent from Internet. Moreover and especially as the spectral characteristics of these data have already been developed, and the spatial information has already been georeferenced (without terrain control points) to the common coordinate system such as UTM. That gives a potential to simplify the first stage of preparation of the data to include it into the GIS project or to minimize the efforts of such procedures. On the other hand, it is important to have a possibility of editing raster data (space shots) by means of standard procedures of GIS software.

Thereby, it is necessary to evaluate the possibilities of development and the quality of remote sensing data located on-line at different geo-portals: Google.Maps, Live Search Maps/MapsBing, Yahoo.Maps, Kosmosnimki, Yandex.Maps.

The most important characteristics were chosen for classification of the remote sensing data such as space resolution, precision/quality of space referencing, imaging characteristics (possibilities of detecting archaeological objects). During the analysis other kinds of remote sensing data were used: color space photo images made by KFA-1000 camera, panchromatic space photos by CORONA KH-4B and aerial photography.

Freeware computer program "SAS.Planet" was used for on-line space information obtained from geo-services; it is a unific software with the convenient interface of download and previous development of geoinformation data.

During the investigation it has been argued that remote sensing data obtained from the large geo-services is very useful for creation of large scale (regional) GIS of archaeological and cultural management purposes. Remote sensing data, in this case, could form the basic layers of the system.

The paper is concerned with the actual problem of creation of an archaeological geoinformation system in the borders of Tatarstan Republic. In the development of such a system it is necessary to include an estimation of the intensity of erosion on the archaeological sites situated on the bank of the Kujbyshev reservoir. This reservoir is one of the largest in the system of the Volga-Kama cascade, and even though it does not have the longest line of borders among the other Russian reservoirs, it is distinguished for the highest evidence of practically all characteristics of bank erosion. This makes the monitoring of bank erosion, and collection of the data of conditions and tendencies of development of exogenous geological processes, that are a real danger for the cultural heritage objects (archaeological sites), a very necessary task. One of the outcomes of these asaid processes is destruction of archaeological sites. In connection with the increasing water level in the Kujbyshev and Nizhnekamsk reservoirs every year around 800 archaeological sites situated on their banks are eroded. The system of concrete and measured archaeological rescue investigations of the destroyed sites that considers the dynamics of bank erosion is still absent, as well as the planned system of calculation of the archaeological objects that were totally destroyed. Using modern geoinformation methods could be one of the solutions of such question. In the frameworks of the investigation several foreground areas with the archaeological sites that are liable to erosion were chosen. Remote sensing data such as aerial photography and space digital images of the super high resolution were used, as well as topographic maps of the scale of 1 : 50 000 and monitoring data of archaeological sites. All these data were analyzed by means of GIS technologies. The multiyear experience of the investigations made by specialists in ecology, including the methods used in landscape ecological studies, gave the potential to identify the dynamics of bank erosion during last 40-50 years, and to create a prognostic model of destruction of the archaeological sites situated on the reservoir banks. As a result, our team is making an optimization of archaeological studies, and a creation of unique information system of the conditions of archaeological objects in Tatarstan Republic and formation of considerable unified system of archaeological research in the region.

During the field work made with help of GIS several problems appeared in connection with high prices for software and professional GPS-receivers. However, our experience showed that ordinary PDA with GPS navigator of precision around 10 m could be useful for field survey and monitoring purposes.

In 2009-2010 PDA "FUJITSU SIEMENS" with GPS navigator and accessible software "OziExplorer", as well as space images of high and very high resolution, were used for work in the Ozery district of the Moscow region. This software offered the possibility to use control points for rectification of the images and creation of electronic map. Two space images and an electronic map of the Moscow region were used in this work.

In 2009, an archaeological investigation of the territory of the planned nature refugium "The valley of the river Ljubinka of the Ozery district" and its vicinities were made with the financial support of the Ministry of Ecology and Nature Conservancy of the Moscow region. Eight new archaeological sites from the temporal camps of the Stone Age to the medieval settlements were found. The field survey of ten known archaeological objects was conducted to define their coordinates. The borders of the sites were fixed by means of GPS navigator and put on the space images. Compared with common topographic maps, space images include much more detailed information because of the quantity of the objects and higher space precision.

In 2010 we could reasonably define the borders of the Protasovo-6 settlement during field walking. This work was made by fixing the tracks on the territory, and the points with surface material and their description. The development of the data was made by means of Microsoft Excel software where a two-coordinate table was created on the basis of fixed points. This information was then transferred to the raster .jpg image and put to the space image by means of Adobe Photoshop software using control points of the nearest road that is clearly visible on the space shot.

Such technology is very simple and accessible, and does not need special knowledge. Our experience showed that it is really useful to use inexpensive hardware and licensed software during the survey in the field to get adequate precision by means of GPS navigator and space images with photography of the nearest control points.

The main disadvantage of this technology is low precision of space localization of GPS navigator (around 10 m) that makes impossible to fix precisely some finds on the surface. However the whole area of the site where the finds were found could be adequately defined by means of these methods.

The paper considers using remote sensing data obtained from open sources (first of all from Google geo-service) for analysis of transport network and determination of fords in the Kuban river, situated near the Early Medieval fortified place of Gilatch.

First investigations of this site, situated in the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic, were made in 1939-1940 by Stavropol regional museum's expedition with T.M. Minaeva as the head. The fortified site is 18 km from the town of Karachaevsk to the Kuban valley on its left bank, where the Kuban meets the small mountain river Kulj-Tjube. On the eastern side of the high mountain range the remainder of the settlement were found with the cemeteries in its vicinities. Furthermore, another fortified settlement and ruins of Christian church are situated in 8-10 km to the south of the Gilatch fortress on the same river. Excavations of these sites were conducted by T.M. Minaeva in 1939, 1940, 1960 and 1971.

Theoretically, several roads should pass to such large medieval fortified place. One of them is known, it leads from the mountain range of the Teberda gorge. The path that lead to the fortified place from the Kuban river, as well as its fording place going to the fortress of Gilatch, is still undetermined. The paper describes landscapes on the ancient path to the fortified place and considers an optimal fording place situated in 150 m from it. Several space images obtained from Internet were used in determination of the fording place, as well as Caucasian ethnographic sources, that describe this place as being used by local people for passing during the stripping to pastureland.

The possibility of taking images of the surface from the height of bird's flight was a real sensation in the second half of XIXth cent. and shortly formed a special approach of photography. Even in the WWI aerial photography was actively used by both sides for military intelligence made from aircrafts and because of this, special regiments were created in the army. Besides airplanes, different models of kites and balloons were also used. There were also experiments of using pigeons for aerial photography that could be qualified as the first 'unmanned aerial vehicle'. Later on aerial photography was used for scientific purposes such as cartography, agriculture, landscape investigations, engineering and so on. Despite the limitation of using classified aerial photography in our country, it was actively used in the investigations of ancient and medieval sites of the Black Sea Point and Central Asia. Technical progress and dramatically developed microelectronics could decrease the weight and dimensions of aircrafts and photo cameras by a hundred times. As a result in the border of XX and XXI cents. a large amount of different compact flying machines appeared that could be used for aerial photography from lower heights, besides balloons and kites. Recently the radio control models of aircrafts and helicopters became very popular. Total price of necessary equipment is now affordable for every interested person, which became a main stimulus for widespread photography of archaeological objects by means of radio control models in foreign countries, and then in Russia. Based on the consultations made with foreign and Russian colleagues, the author has constructed and tested a device for aerial photography that was made on the basis of well-known radio control model of the airframe "Multiplex EasyStar". Experience of using this model for archaeological photography during surveys and excavations in the Novgorod and Leningrad regions, in the Northern Caucasus and Transcaucasia, showed high efficiency in this construction. Simplicity of exploitation and high mobility of the model, low time and cost expenses of getting high quality vertical and oblique photos, and large scale of surveyed area, make this technology a very attractive and inexpensive solution for the local archaeological aerial reconnaissance.

The idea of unification of GPS/GLONASS receiver of high accuracy with GPR (magnetometer or other geophysical instrument) in one system has attempted to be realised for obtaining qualified geophysical data at archaeological sites for a long time. In the frameworks of our research in the Staraja Rjazanj archaeological agglomeration we have developed a GPR robotizing complex for automatization of the large scale survey.

1. Components of the system. Complex includes several instruments:
a) Ground Penetrating Radar SIR-3000 with the kit of antennas 5103, 5104 и 5106, that could be separately used during GPR survey.
b) two GPS/GLONASS receivers Maxor, one of which is stationarily fixed and sends the fluxional rectifications by means of radio modem to the other (mobile) that is situated on the self moving car frame with GPR and antenna. During this process, precision of positioning of the system could be within 1 cm in open landscapes without vegetation.
c) self moving car frame (on the basis of quadricycle) with a petrol engine, large cruising range, on-board computer and radio control block. It would be expected that the surface is approximately flat.
d) exterior computer that is receiving the information about location of the system and images from GPR by means of WI-FI.

2. Functional use. The equipment makes the GPR survey with help of SIR-3000 GPR tool and antennas of frequency of 200, 270 and 400 MHz. Two schemas could be used:
a) joystick control with recording of GPR data and coordinates of position to the memory of the control unit of SIR-3000 GPR. The control process is supported by WI-FI communication. In this situation it is unrequired for the operator to be closed to equipment. The operator could control the robot from a large distance with help of Internet.
b) fully-automated large square survey when the on-board computer controls the movements of equipment with help of high accuracy GPS/GLONASS receiver. The on-board computer simulates zigzag movements of GPR antenna and switches on the conditions of GPR survey on the straight parts of the trajectory.

At the same time it is possible to define the distance between GPR profiles, with help of computer software, its length and all the characteristics of GPR survey. During such survey we could transmit to a distant computer the trajectory of the robot's movement and video image of GPR profiles with help of WI-FI. In this case the operator could also be located far from the place of survey.

From the results of the survey it is possible to calculate 3D model of geodata of the investigated area with precise (to 1 cm) spatial reference of identified objects and micro topographic map.

Trajectory of movements of equipment could be easily repeated at any time when it is necessary to investigate defined anomalies.

The model of GPS/GLONASS receiver makes precise positioning to 1 cm using RTK mode.

3. Expected areas of application.
a) from the beginning our equipment was created for automatization of identification of archaeological objects laying under surface. First of all it was Staraja Rjazanj and Borodino field.
b) it is interesting to test the equipment for mapping shallow rivers and lakes (to 4-7 m) from the ice. With help of GPR in basins with comparatively clean water it is possible to investigate, firstly, the depth of ice; secondly, the stratigraphy of bottom sediments; thirdly, foreign objects in these sediments. First and foremost, it could be ancient sunken ships and large metal objects laying on the basin bottom. Because of the possibility of repeating the procedure of positioning it is possible to return to the place of anomalies in a warmer time to weigh the objects. It has been recommended to survey the Oka riverbed near Staraja Rjazanj as the first place for such investigation.

The ancient site situated in the northern-east part of Akhtanizovskaja consists from two parts: a settlement that existed from the VIth Cent. BC to the XIIIth Cent. AD, and a fortified place on its promontary, dated to the Ist Cent. BC. The latter is interesting, first of all, because of its fortifications - rampart and remains of the fortress. In July of 2009 the Taman archaeological expedition of the State Historical museum in collaboration with the commercial scientific center "GeoFlagman", was making a GPR survey of one of the part of the site with the proposed fortification as a rampart.

As a result, two main areas with the artifitial destruction of the ground soil were allocated. The first area is visible on every of four GPR profiles with different accuracy. Despite the difference of a radiosignal in every profile, the linear dimensions, and partly the form of ground destruction, look similar and gives a possibility to recognise this extensive linear object as a ditch. The object is characterised as a ditch filled by shifted soil with the width of 9-10 m and depth from the modern level of 2.3-2.5 m. Another atrificial destruction recognised in the second area has an unclarified form and dimensions. However, its position in 16-18 m to the east from the first object allow it to be assumed that it is a second extensive linear object that could be recognised on the aerial photo.

In 2009, the author made a magnetometric survey of some archaeological sites situated on the Kertch and Taman peninsulas. The paper presents the main interesting results obtained at three sites - ancient settlements of Belinskoe and Zavetnoe-5 and a sacral complex of Taman-16.

Magnetometry at the fotrhill of Belinskoe. The study of the magnetic survey on the territory of the ancient forthill of Belinskoe was started in 2007. In 2009 magnetic prospection occupied an area of more than 2.5 ha, and, as a whole, more than one half of the site was investigated during three years, including its central and eastern parts that were totally measured. Four zones could be allocated on the interpretational plan. Zones I, II and III differ by their proposed building areas and functions. Zone IV is a place of a ruined village. It is impossible to recognise any anomalies here connected with the ancient buildings because of the large amount of iron garbage.

Magnetometry at the settlement of Zavetnoe-5. In 2009, the magnetometric survey started in 2007 at the settlement of Zavetnoe-5 was continued. According to the results of the investigation made in 2007 the presence of several large pottery kilns was assumed. However, excavations made in 2009 before magnetic survey found another nature of the recognised magnetic anomalies. They were provoced by the ruins of the reinforced concrete pillboxes situated here during the WWII that formed anomalies similar in form and dimensions to pottery kilns. The magnetic investigations of 2009 included two stages. First, the survey of the territory located near the excavation trenches was made by means of method of "free walking". At the second stage magnetic measurements were made using regular grid at two areas of 23 x 47 and 55 x 41 m situated near the area of survey made in 2007.

Magnetometry at the site of Taman-16. The object is situated on a field, uncultivated in modern times. The site was partly excavated and the 'botroses' found here allowed its interpretation as a sacral complex. Magnetic survey was made at two areas of 50 x 40 m each.

Magnetometric investigation of the archaeological sites situated on the territory of Kertch and Taman peninsulas will be continued in the nearest field season.

Bondarj K.M., Virshilo I.V., Didenko S.V., Shishkin R.G., Magomedov B.V., Petrauskas O.V.

The paper analyses possibilities of modern magnetic survey made with the help of ceasium magnetometers for allocation of weak anomalies connected with low contrast archaeological objects. The authors publish several methodical suggestions of organising the archaeomagnetic survey as well as of choosing the methods of simulation of magnetic data collected in the field. It is demonstrated that interpretation of magnetic maps should be done according to specific character of the concrete archaeological site, and its spatial and inner characteristics.
Methodical conclusions are illustrated by the results of geophysical and archaeological investigations at the cemeteries of the Chernjakhov culture, excavated in Ukraina - Legedzine (Cherkassk region) and Chervone (Kiev region).

In the field season of 2009 V.G. Bezdudnyj investigated the territory of the settlement of Razdolje II (Fatezh district of Kursk region) by means of magnetometery. The site was found during the archaeological survey in 2009. Practically no evidence of modern and recent time was found on the surface of the site, whereas a large amount of artifacts (pottery, spur, firesteel, battle axe) was found in the plough soil with help of a metal detector; all this material is dated to one period - to the beginning of the 5th Cent. AD.

Investigation was made by means of a processor Overhauser sencor POS-2 in a gradient (two channals) modification. Measurement of the vertical gradient (2 m) of the Earth's magnetic field was made at the areas of investigation. We used a method of continuous survey at every area of investigation with the sensitivity of ± 0.1 nT and a grid of no more that 0.5 m. The whole area of the survey covered 3100 sq.m.

As a result it could be assumed with a high level of probability that the recognised anomalies, and their structure, connect with the settlement. It seems that anomalies appeared contemporary by archaeological standards, according to comparison of their dimensions and orientation. Low magnetic contrast of allocated anomalies could demonstrate a short period of their appearance and existence. Absense of strong and high polarised (oriented to the north-south line) magnetic anomalies could be an argument for the assumption that the settlement was not destroyed by fire if the investigation is made at the settled area. Hypothetically, our survey was made on the territory of two house-holds with a complex inner structure. Futher geophysical and archaeological researches could make the interpretation of obtained results more precise.

The idea of a non-destructive archaeological investigation is comparatively recent. Its appearance became possible as a result of development of the science and collaboration of different disciplines. One of non-destructive methods is a magnetic survey. At the moment the largest amount of archaeological sites are situated in places with high developed electricity. Presence of electric power lines, railways and so on dramatically influence magnetic survey and make its results less efective due to the 'noise' that could be compared with anomalies provoced by archaeological objects. In large cities like Moscow the amplitude of an industrial signal could be up to 150-200 nT. The situation in the country is better: on the territory of the Louzhetsk abbey amplitude of an industrial signal is up to 20 nT. Excluding the phase of magnetic field during the exploitation of magnetometers with a frequency less than 50 Hz has been dramatically distorting results of measument of the Earth's magnetic field until present day.

In December 2009 scientific-industrial company "Geotekhnologiya" made the first high frequency micromagnetic survey in the territory of Louzhetsk abbey using a new magnetometer GT-MVS-500.

Tools of measuring of the magnetic field. Different types of magnetometers are used for measuring of parameters of the magnetic field (Огильви, 1962; Померанцев, Рыжков, Скроцкий, 1972; Хмелевской, 1988). Table 1 demostrates measuring characteristics of their most widespread types.

Aerial photos are also used during the interpretation of the results of micromagnetic survey. It should be stressed that the height of the sensor of 2.2 m gives a good impression of the objects situated underground, excluding the noise formed by objects on the surface. However, registered anomalies are provoced by the buildings situated far from the territory of the survey and not by the underground objects if measurment is made near modern infrastructure (Бездудный, 2008). We could visually recognise a reinforced concrete post and excavated graves. Other anomalies confirm the presence of underground objects which interpretation could be made after excavation.

1. Geophysics could exclude the influence of industrial signal to the field data with help of high frequency magnitometer GT-MVS-500 that makes it possible to organise an effective magnetic survey in areas with a highly developed electric network.

2. Before starting a micromagnetic investigation of the archaeological site it is necessary to clean the surface of the survey from modern metal objects that produce subsurface noise for quantum magnetometer that could be done with help of ferrozond gradientometer (metal detector).

3. High frequency micromagnetic survey should be combined with other types of non-destructive methods of prospection at the archaeological site, for example with GPR survey.

The article considers the method and results of a complex research of structure and composition of fortified objects on the basis of medieval hill fort of Idnakar (Udmurt Republic).

Method of investigation is based on complex archaeological and geophysical techniques. This method was used for investigation of composition and structure of the middle line of fortifications at the hill fort of Idnakar (length of 70 m). At least four variants of the basement structure of middle rampart were fixed, as well as the borders of areas with different ways of forming the mound, were determined:
- loam soil with different admixtures covered from the external side by ground clay;
- sand mound covered by loam soil and ground clay;
- loam soils (internal side) and sandy loams (external slope) with different admixtures covered from the internal side by ground clay;
- mound formed by ground clay.

It is impossible to obtained such results using only archaeological data. Thus, the presented method solves principally new problem - the reconstruction of structure and composition of the fortification at the settlements as a whole.

The article presents the attempt of creation of a general map of burial mounds situated in the river Brovarka valley (Perejaslav-Khmeljnitskij district, Kiev region) that was made on the basis of cartographic sources, space shots and field researches. Creation of such map seems to be necessary in connection with complex investigation of this microregion. Beside the analysis of settlement network, great attention of the research is concentrated on the ancient earthwork structures (burial mounds, 'maidans', 'Serpent's Walls'). There are 200 known burial mounds in the territory of the river Brovarka valley. Now it is necessary to create an electronic map connected with the database for effective protection of these sites and their future research. Today there are rather fewer numbers of objects that could be precisely localised with known geographic coordinates. The rest could be only conventionally found on the map according to their description in archaeological reports. That is why the general map of burial mounds was created in comparison of the cartographic and remote sensing data by means of GIS.

During more than 200 years dramatic change in a settlement and fortification system could be observed in the investigated region: from small hill forts of Chernolessk culture situated on the first terrace above the flood plain - to the settlement of Zhabotin culture found on the high ridges - and then to the large artificial ramparts of the Early Scythian hill forts that were also situated on the high, difficult to access places. It is interesting to note that not only the topography of the landscapes differ from each other, but also the technology of fortification was different in principle (profiles of ramparts and ditches, mounds and/or escarping of ramparts and so on). That could be an indicator of different building traditions and preferences and also of different functions of the fortified objects. The ways of solving the main problems considered in the article seem to be connected with new methods, primarily, with geoinformational and spatial analysis of the settled structures situated on the Right bank of the Middle Dnepr region in the beginning of the Early Iron Age.

The site of Velikent (42°11'23"N; 48°3'36"E) near Derbent in Dagestan on western shore of Caspian sea (fig. 1, 2) is one of the best known archaeological sites associated with the Kuro-Araxes horizon (late 4th early 3rd millennium BC).

The surviving remains of the early settlement at Velikent occupy the tops of five natural hillocks (Mounds I-V) that stand up to 9 meters in height (fig. 3, 4, 5).

The presence of archaeological materials at Velikent was first noted by the Russian archaeologist, A. Russov, in 1880. The first controlled soundings took place in the mid-fifties and then, in the late 1970's and the early 1980's, excavations were undertaken on behalf of the Daghestan branch of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. This latter work revealed one area with well preserved architecture on Mound I and elsewhere, on Mound III, several collective tombs were located and excavated. The oldest archaeological layers on Mound II were dated by C14 carbon dates on the period between 3300 and 2950 BC [Stronach, 1996].

Since 1994 the site was excavated by the Daghestan-American expedition directed by R. Magomedov, Ph. Kohl and M. Gadzhiev. Burial catacombs (no mounds), numerous ceramic vessels, models of wheels, bronze axes, knives, hews; jewelry, dated on the period c. 3000-2000 BC have been excavated [Gadzhiev M. et als., 1997. P. 183-230; 2000. P. 47-123]. Significant evidence for the production and use of copper and bronze metalwork during this period has been confirmed [Kohl, 2002. P. 161-184]. Many analyses allowing to reconstructed landscape and environmental patterns of the site have been carried out [Gadzhiev, 1997]. Also anthropological material has been carefully examined and published [Медникова и др., 2007. С. 19-29]. Final publication of two volumes in the frame of the Eurasien-Abteilung, Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, monograph series is planned:
The Settlements and Coastal Plain of Daghestan in the Chalcolithic and Bronze Periods (vol. 1- ed. Ph. Kohl);
The Velikent Catacomb Cemeteries (vol. 2 - eds. Ph. Kohl, M. Gadzhiev, R. Magomedov).

Due to the last years activity at Velikent many new elements have been added to the reconstruction of the pre-history of the Trans-Caucasus region. However, the information on the site itself is still uncompleted. It is still difficult to prepare detailed plans of the remains preserved on mounds. Even the information on the extent of the site is partial and uncompleted, the relations between settlements and cemeteries are far to be clear enough. Also the problem of preservation and conservation of already excavated features appeared last years. The site is permanently devastated by local people treating mounds with archaeological remains as the source of clay used in modern building activities (fig. 6). It is necessary to find the method of preservation of the site and create the zone of special protection of the preserved remains.

Geophysical survey has been found as one of the most helpful method in such situation. Geophysical measurements are quick and effective in localization of archaeological features and in determination of the extent of the sites. Activity in the field is completely un-destructive and less expansive in comparison with archaeological excavations.

Already excavated features (both building made with stones, wood and burned clay but also tombs with shafts and chambers) differ a lot from their surroundings and from the geophysical point of view produce enough contrast to be detected by geo-electric, electromagnetic and magnetic survey. Electromagnetic - radar survey has been tested at 2005 at the part of the site on mound IV but the results since now have not been tested by trial pits what is necessary for planning large scale surveys.

At 2007 electric measurements have carried out in separate 3 sets (fig. 7). On mound IV (set A) survey covered practically all the site suitable for electric measurements (not covered by asphalt). At mound I (set B) measurements have been taken intentionally at the part of the site being during last 20 years intensively used for pasture and agriculture activities. Having positive results in such conditions one could plan similar activity in less destroyed parts of the site. Finally a test at the area 10 x 20 meters (set C) has been carried out close to the place laying west to the mound II, where the remains of kilns were visible in the profile (see fig. 6). Limits of surveyed areas in all sets marked in fig. 7 were included to the detailed topographical map of the sites at Velikent prepared by the team of the "Nasledie" Company (fig. 13).

Method of survey. Survey has been completed with electric method using pole-dipole electrodes disposition with measuring probes MN on 1-meter frame, current probe A at the distance of 6 meters from MN and B current probe 100 meters apart. This measuring system allowed to change the depth of current penetration by changing the distance between AB and MN electrodes [Hesse, Spahos, 1979. P. 647-655]. In theory the depth of survey should be calculated as a half distance between measuring and current probes. In the case of Velikent this distance was equal 6 meters, what allowed to register the values of apparent resistivity of the layers laying to the depth of 3 meters. At set C having full information on the sequence of layer we could limit the depth of survey to 2 meters.

Observations in the field have been carried out with ARA 03 alternative current multi-frequency microprocessor controlled resistance meter (fig. 8). Internal memory of the instrument allowed to store 10 000 measurements with coordinates in XY axes and to prepare, after the transmission of data to the computer, preliminary results of survey already in the field [Herbich et als., 1998. P. 127-131]. Measurements have been taken in the field with the use of 230 V, 10 mA and 128 Hz current in 1 meter grid. Results of survey were prepared as maps and 3D models of the disposition of values of apparent resistivity with the use of Surfer 8 Golden Software inc. program.

Preparing the results of survey from mound IV (set A) we could compare maps with the results of geo-electric survey with radar profiles made with Ground Penetrating Radar LOZA 2 with 400 MHz unshielded antenna. Unfortunately to our disposition we have had not the full range of original radar data but only maps with localization of detected anomalies (fig. 9, 10). However, these limited data allowed to describe anomalies detected both by radar and electric surveys.

Results of geo-electric survey 2007.
Set A. Values of apparent resistivity in the range 20-100 Ωm were registered in the result of survey in this set. In maps and 3D models of apparent resistivity (fig. 11, 12) there are visible anomalies (mainly high resistivity) caused by the remains of archaeological features we were looking for.

As it is visible on all maps the lowest values of apparent resistivity were registered in the places where natural sequence of geological layers was preserved (marked with blue and green colors). The highest values appeared when subsurface layers were transformed or demolished due to the intensive use of the ground in modern times. In these cases anomalies visible on maps (marked with orange and brown colors) could be caused by remains of modern buildings, pavements, fens, paths and roads.

Comparison of the results of radar survey (fig. 9, 10) with apparent resistivity maps allowed to select anomalies caused by archaeological remains (fig. 14).

As it is visible in fig. 14 the presence of most anomalies detected by radar was confirmed by electric survey. First of all it concerns anomalies described as concentrations of stones (marked in fig. 14 by red squares). It is possible that stones localized on meters X = 46; Y= 62 in southern part of surveyed area could rest in subsurface layer after excavation of the near-laying trench, but concentration of the same kind material in western part of prospected field (meters X = 52; Y= 38) seems to be deposited in situ, as well as most of the other features causing anomalies in this part of field. The detailed map (fig. 15) prepared for western part of set A allows to describe separately each registered anomaly and to define its source.

Red squares correspond to anomalies detected both by radar and electric survey and described as concentrations of stones. With blue squares were marked the same kind anomalies detected only by electric measurements. Red circles correspond to concentrations of anomalies detected by radar survey; blue circles to similar anomalies localized due to geo-electric prospection.

The main concentration of high resistance anomalies caused probably by archaeological objects lie on meters X= 35-45; Y = 35-40. Both shape and values of apparent resistivity registered in these places are similar to anomalies confirmed by radar survey. The other high resistivity anomalies (with values over 80 Ωm - marked with brown color) seem to be caused by modern objects - narrow, linear anomalies by paths roads and fens, large by remains of buildings. Typical feature characteristics for the last kind of anomalies were registered on meters X= 12-20; Y= 0-18 (fig. 16). Shape and dimensions of anomalies in zone described above suggest foundations of building 8 meters wide and 12 meters long could be the source of registered disturbances in apparent resistivity.

Similar situation can be observed also in eastern part of surveyed area - meters X=20-50; Y= 90-117 (fig. 17).

Values of apparent resistivity registered here were higher when in western part of the field. Narrow, linear anomalies in the distance of 2 meters could suggest that foundations of light fens preserved here could be the source of anomalies. Irregular shape zones with higher values of apparent resistivity could be resulted from chemical changes of the ground effected by long-time pasture activity. A presence of rubbish material used for leveling of the surface of the ground is also not excluded as the source of anomalies registered here.

As it was visible in western part of surveyed field values of apparent resisitivity observed in the case of anomalies interpret as resulted by the presence of archaeological features not exceeded 60 Ωm, while all values in eastern part of set A were higher then 80 Ωm. In such conditions (the presence of subsurface layer of high resistivity) registration of anomalies caused by archaeological features (laying on bigger depth) was practically impossible.

Set B. Measurements in this set were carried out in the part of Mound I intensively used in last times for agriculture, pasture and other economical purposes. Paths, fens and modern buildings were still visible in topographical plan of the site made at 1994 (see fig. 3). Nowadays field is cleaned, leveled and accessible for geo-electric survey. However, one must take into account the presence of high resistivity layer, which could form similar conditions to these in western part of set A and make interpretation of detected anomalies very difficult.

Values of apparent resistivity in the range 30-180 Ωm have been registered in the result of survey (fig. 18).

Obtained picture is very similar to this from set A. However, values of resistivity, especially in the case of high resistivity anomalies are much higher. It is probably caused by thicker then in set A layer of high resistance leveling material laying close to the surface. It is also not excluded that buildings standing here had have much solid, stronger and dipper foundations. It could arise the values of apparent resistivity even up to 100%. In 3D model of apparent resistivity (fig. 19) square zone on meters X= 0-5; Y= 2-12 (marked with yellow color) is visible. Inside this zone narrow, linear anomalies (marked with brown color) form rectangle well limited from east, north and south and having continuation to the west are readable. The picture is typical for the anomalies caused by the remains of building with preserved foundations and walls collapsed into rooms. Very similar narrow, linear anomalies (this time oblique to the measuring grid) have been detected on meters X=20-30; Y= 10-18.

Anomalies have sharper borders and are more distinctive, what could suggest that preserved foundations lay closer to the surface and there is less rubbish material beneath. With modern activity seems to be connected also high resistivity anomaly on meters X= 10-12; Y= 18-20. In this place low resistivity anomaly lie close to the structure described above. It is not excluded that we have traces of modern digging here. In such situation remains of modern constructions of high resistance were dig out and deposited in subsurface layer. Formed this way hole was next filled up this lower resistance homogenous soil.

Very high value of apparent resitivity registered on meter X=20 differs a lot from neighboring rather low resistivity values and seems to be resulted from the fault contact of measuring probes.

Except high resistivity anomalies caused by modern activity described above on map and 3D model of apparent resistivity registered in set B (fig. 18, 19) there are anomalies with values and shapes very similar to these detected in set A and interpret as the result of the presence of archaeological features. To this kind of anomalies belong:
- high resistivity anomaly on meters X= 8-12; Y= 4-6;
- anomalies in zone X=16-20; Y= 6-11;
- semicircular anomaly on meters X= 8-10; Y= 8-11.

The first group of anomalies is connected with low resistivity zone with centre on meter X=15; Y=5. This forms the picture typical for heavy burned objects like concentrations of pottery shards, hearths, ovens or kilns with solid stone constructions. Features of these kinds are known from the excavation on mound I. One of the kilns is still visible on the surface (see fig. 3). There is not excluded the similar object could be the source of disturbances in apparent resistivity registered here.

The second group of anomalies is practically identical with the picture observed in set A in the place where the most significant anomalies were detected both by electric and electromagnetic-radar survey (see fig. 15).

The third anomaly consisted with linear semicircular structures well limited from north, east and south. It is not excluded that feature laying on big depth (2-3 meters) forms the source of anomaly. Part of the object was probably destroyed by modern trench (going from north to south along meter X=7 - marked in deep green in fig. 18). However, it is possible that anomaly could be connected with modern disturbance in south-western corner of surveyed field and it is separated from the remains preserved there by modern trench.

Set C. Testing the possibility of localization of archaeological object on settlements of Velikent was the main purpose of survey in with set. Heavy burned objects (kiln?) visible in the profile (see fig. 6) laying on the depth 0.5-1.5 meter partly destroyed during exploration of clay served as a model for tests. At the first stage arrangement of current and measuring probes has been changed. The depth of penetration of current was limited to 2 meters but maximal sensibility (possibility of detecting small object ca. 0.5 m in diameter) and penetrating of thin layers (0.20-0.30 m) due to the use of dipole-pole electrodes arrangement in configuration: MN=1 m; D (NA) = 4 m B= ∞.

200 sq. m (10 x 20 m) was surveyed in 0.5 m grid starting from the edge of the hill toward west. Results of survey were presented on map and 3D model of disposition of values of apparent resistivity (fig. 20). Higher values (in comparison with sets A and B) of resistivity in the range of 20-290 Ωm were registered due to the limiting of the depth of survey (low resistivity clayish virgin soil was less influenced on the arrange value of resistance of surveyed layers measured on the surface).

Archaeological object visible in the profile caused anomaly over 200 Ωm as it is visible in fig. 20 (meters X= 8-10; Y= 9 -12). Similar anomaly is observed on meters X= 4-6; Y=1-4. High resistivity anomaly is surrounded by low resistivity features what is characteristic for heavy burned objects. It is possible that this anomaly is caused by the same kind of feature laying on the same depth.

The other anomalies detected in set C have lower values (under 200 Ωm) and were probably caused by small pits with earth fillings. However, the differences in humidity of the subsurface layers are also not excluded as the sources of anomalies.

One can conclude that the method of survey used in set C allow to survey large surfaces of settlements but trial pit localized in the place of detected anomaly (X= 4-6; Y=1-4) seems to be necessary to confirm our supposition. Due to the results of excavation in trial pit we can have data on real dimension and original archaeological context and consequence of layer in unattached part of the site. It is possible to calculate real depth and dimension of object causing registered anomaly close to the edge of the hill but we must remember that we have there only part of object preserved in situ. Also disposition of equipotential surfaces on eastern border of surveyed field observed by geoelectrical measurements is deranged by the presence of practically vertical slope of the hill and can not serve as the model for such calculations.

Conclusion. Geo-electrical survey curried out in different part of the sites at Velikent confirmed efficiency of the method in localization of archaeological objects. However, trial pits in the places of the most significant anomalies seems to be necessary in planning possible future surveys. It will be reasonable to focus our attention on the parts of site which could be destroyed due to the modern activity connected with exploitation of clay.

Magnetic measurements in version of gradient observations [Bartington, Chapman, 2003. P. 19-34] could be involved as the method of surveying of large areas. The method is quicker when electrical measurements and more effective in detecting of burned features (concentrations of pottery shards, herds and kilns). Using magnetometer with two probes working in gradient mode we could obtain data from different depth and localize even individual archaeological objects. In the case of Velikent modern installations (metal fens and electricity power lines) could form limitations in wider use of magnetic survey but it is possible to connect magnetic observations with electric ones and to carry out electrical measurements in the places where magnetic observations are difficult to realize. The other obstacle is the presence of modern metal objects on the surface, especially on mound V which served to a local people for a long time as a place for rubbish deposition. This problem can be also solved by cleaning the surface with the use of metal detectors.

Archaeological verification of the anomalies in set A (mound II) by trial pits should give data for planning of large scale radar surveys for detecting cavities and shafts on cemeteries.

Electromagnetic method with the use of subsurface radar is very effective in such kind of sites [Conyers, Goodman, 1997].

Complex non-destructive surveys at Velikent should help not only in planning future activities on the site, determine the extent and concentrations of archaeological features on each of the mounds but also form the base for creating special protected zones. Thank to that one can survive as much as possible from reach archaeological substance of Velikent. The first step of this activity has been done by preparing detailed topographical map (made by the team of the "Nasledie" Company) as the base for Digital Elevation Model possible to use in archaeological conservation practice.

Literature

Медникова М.Б., Бужилова А.П., Добровольская М.В., Лебединская Г.В., 2007. Антропологические материалы из Великента (раскопки 1995-1998 гг.) // РА. № 3. Back

Bartington G., Chapman C.E., 2003. A high-stability fluxgate magnetic gradiometer for shallow geophysical survey // Archaeological Prospection. № 11. Back

Conyers L.B., Goodman D., 1997. Ground-Penetrating Radar: an introduction for archaeologist. Walnut Creek (California). Back

Gadzhiev M.G., 1997. The Flora from Velikent, A Preliminary Analysis // Daghestan-American Velikent Expedition, the 1995 annual report. Back

Gadzhiev M.G., Kohl P.L., Magomedov R.G., Stronach D., 1997. The 1995 Daghestan-American Velikent Expedition // Eurasia Antiqua. Zeitshchrift für Archäologie Eurasiens. № 3. Back

Gadzhiev M.G., Kohl P.L., Magomedov R.G., Stronach D., Gadzhiev Sh.M., 2000. Dagestan-American Archaeological Investigations in Daghestan, Russia 1997-99 // Eurasia Antiqua. Zeitshchrift für Archäologie Eurasiens. № 6. Back

Herbich T., Mişiewicz K., Mucha L., 1998. The "ARA" resistivity meter and its application // Unsichtbares Sichtbar machen, Prospektionsmethoden in der Archäologie / Ed. by H. von der Osten-Woldenburg. Stuttgart. Back

Hesse A., Spahos Y., 1979. The evaluation of Wenner and Dipole-dipole resistivity measurements and the use of a new switch for archaeological field works // Archaeo-Physika. № 10. Back

Kohl P.L., 2002. Bronze production and utilization in Southeastern Daghestan, Russia: c. 3600-1900 BC. // Die Anfänge der Metallurgie in der Alten Welt / Ed. by M. Bartelheim, E. Pernicka, R. Krause. Rahden/Westf. 2002. Back

Stronach D., 1996. Excavations in Daghestan // Berkeley Archaeology. The Archaeological Research Facility Newsletter. № 3 (2). Internet Back

The article presents GIS-modeling of the agricultural holdings allocated around 156 fortified and unfortified settlements of the Kislovodsk basin. The investigation consists from several stages in the course of which territories of potential economic zones and ploughing areas were modelled for each settlement. It is assumed that during 5th-8th Cents. AD comparatively flat territories (with the slopes no more than 10°) in a radius of 1 km around the site were the most valuable for agriculture. The rest of the economic area simulated by means of Thiessen tessellation could be used for pasturing and haymaking. Such reconstruction is based also on the Caucasian ethnographic parallels, as well as the evidence of Early Medieval European agriculture. It was recently proved during the combined archaeological and soil field investigation made around some fortified settlements in the valleys of Alikonovka, Berezovaja and Podkumok.

Computer simulation of the potential economic territories gives a possibility to determine the area of proposed ploughing and pasturing holdings, and to hypothetically prove the quantity of settled population and their cattle. As a result, a modelling thesis of small dimension of the patronimic society of the Alans, who occupied these Early Medieval settlements, and affirmation of self-sufficiency of their economy were confirmed. Social aspects of this model lay out of presented research.

In the end of 1970's - 1990's wide fortified settlements with closed system of fortification were found on a compact territory of 80 000 sq. km. At present date more than 20 such settlements, dated to the final Bronze Age period, were recognised with help of aerial photography. Hill forts are, practically, totally covered by the earth. During many years modern ploughing for agricultural purposes were made on their territory. Architectural structures of some settlements were almost completely destroyed, dwelling pits and burial mounds were ploughed. That is why detailed study of these settlements is possible now only with help of geophysical survey, taking into account their dimensions (with diameter of hundreds meters).

The site of Konopljanka is included into the group of prehistoric fortified settlements of the Bronze Age (Oljgino and Zhurumbaj) that are situated in the distance of 6-10 km in the valley of the river Karagajly-Ajat in Kartaly district, Cheljabinsk region. The site was found on the aerial photos, the main features of the settlement were determined during reconnaissance (ruines of the walls and a ditch).

In 2009, detailed magnetic survey with help of two magnetic gradiometers with a grid of 0.5 x 0.5 m was made on the northern territory of the settlement in the frameworks of the project "Multidisciplinary investigation of the Bronze Age sites in the Southern Ural". On the basis of obtained date it is possible to localise prehistoric settlement on the surface. Comparing magnetic maps of anomaly field with the scheme of the site made by means of aerial photography it is obvious that some elements of fortification correspond well to each other.

Magnetic prospection could find new additional details and determine precisely the internal plan of the hill fort. Magnetic anomaly of more than 300 nT was observed on one of the burial mounds situated nearby and belonged to the more recent period. Computer modeling showed that this anomaly is formed by the objects situated in the bottom of the mound.

Thus, geophysical survey made by our team could solve two tasks of a large importance for archaeologists: reconstructing the internal plan of the hill fort and determine more precisely the places of future excavations.

The article speaks about the results and new data of geophysical surveys on medieval settlements in Suzdal' region in the year 2008.

The most important result of analyzing the geomagnetic maps of Shekshovo 2, Bolshoe Davydovskoe 2 and Kibol 1a-c, Kibol 7 is the discovery of the correlation between the area where surface finds are encountered and the boundaries of the main built-on area (provisionally correlated with the zones of concentrated magnetic "spots"). It is important that geomagnetic survey and the presence of surface finds give similar yet not identical boundaries for the sites. Surface finds are encountered to at least 10 m outside the hypothetical built-on area. On the other hand, the geomagnetic maps show individual dark dots and spots outside the main area where anomalies are concentrated; these mark objects outside the settlement area. It is possible that we encounter here the remnants of some industrial constructions. At Ves' 5, outside the area of concentrated anomalies, and beyond the initial boundaries of the site as defined on the basis of pottery, an individual cluster of strong anomalies was discovered, marking the location of ironworks.

Geomagnetic maps of Bolshoe Davydovskoe 2, Shekshovo 2 and Kibol 1 а-с, Kibol 7 show dark spots and areas of varying size and intensity, which denote high magnetic response, that is, geomagnetic anomalies which are, in most of the cases, related to fires. Some of the larger dark spots can denote hearths, buildings, household structures, and the smaller ones can be correlated with clusters of hearthstones and other anthropogenic remains. The maps show the main territory of the settlements as zones of geomagnetic anomalies, with a grain pattern and well-defined boundaries. The anomalies revealed no regularity that could have been related to a planned structure of the settlements, yet it now appears possible to give estimates of their zoning, and also of their evolutionary dynamics, through combined usage of archeological and geophysical data.

3D modeling of cultural layers of archaeological sites is an effective instrument for solution of the most important archaeological purposes. My experience shows that not every computer software of free access is suitable for such solution. Difficulties could appear on the stage of planning of the model: it is necessary to obtain a "mould" of cultural layer as much close to reality as possible with the finds in a real scale or a scheme with conventional signs of different colors that could be observed from different points.

A collective of scholars from Novosibirsk proposed the most developed variant of creation of 3D computer models of cultural layer using 3D MAX. It is possible to make an application of this method to the Mesolithic sites of the Middle Don region at several directions: 1) visualisation of all objects with determination of their spatial distribution in stratigraphy; 2) visualization of complexes of stone tools; 3) reconstruction of prehistoric surface level of the site using the data of finds leveling; 4) reconstruction of everyday living objects without preserved features that could be determined visually. Processing of collections in laboratory conditions, creation of data base and 3D modeling of cultural layers usually takes much more time than excavations of the site. However, as a result an investigator obtains a valuable archaeological source and not an information valid for one occasion only that could be fast forgotten.

Notes

[1] All texts except marked by "*" were translated from Russian by Dmitry Korobov and edited by Jason Everson. Back

[2] Text is published in original English version of the author. Back

[3] Text is published in original English version of the author. Back

Model	Producer	Country	Type of tool	Type of meas.	Diapason (mkT)	Sencivity (nT)	Inaccuracy (nT)	Measur. per sec.
GSM-19T	GEM	Canada	Proton	Scalar	20-100	0.2	1	1
GSM-19(F)	GEM	Canada	Overhauser	Scalar	20-100	0.02	0.2	5
TFM100S	Billingsley	USA	Ferrozond	Vector	±100	0.1	5	100
FLG3-100	Stefan Mayer	Germany	Ferrozond	Vector	±100	0.15	5	100
ММПОС-1	УПИ	Russia	Overhauser	Scalar	20-100	0.01	1	2
SM-5	Scintrex	Canada	Quantum	Scalar	20-100	0.001	0.2	10
ГТ-МВС	Геотехнология	Russia	Quantum	Scalar	20-100	0.001	0.5	500

Fifth Round Table
"Archaeology and geoinformatics"
(April 14-15, 2010, Institute of Archaeology, Moscow) [1]

1) Section "GIS in archaeological study"

2) Section "Archaeology and remote sensing data"

3) Section "Geophisical methods in field archeological study and three-dimensional modeling"

Supplementary articles

Regionalistics in archaeology and geoinformation systems

Literature

Notes

Fifth Round Table "Archaeology and geoinformatics" (April 14-15, 2010, Institute of Archaeology, Moscow) [1]