In archaeology, magnetometers are valuable tools used to detect variations in the Earth’s magnetic field, often caused by buried artefacts, structures, or features such as walls, kilns, or ditches. These magnetic anomalies can reveal the presence of archaeological sites without excavation. When mounted on drones, magnetometers enable rapid and non-invasive surveys over large areas, providing archaeologists with crucial subsurface data.

How Sky Sight Facilities Management Can Carry Out Archaeological Surveys with Magnetometers

At Sky Sight, we use drones equipped with highly sensitive magnetometers capable of detecting subtle magnetic anomalies caused by buried archaeological features.

Survey Planning: We carefully plan flight paths over the target archaeological site. The drone flies at a consistent altitude and speed, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the area and uniform data collection.

Data Collection: As the drone surveys the site, the magnetometer continuously measures variations in the Earth’s magnetic field. Buried structures or artefacts that affect the magnetic field create anomalies that the magnetometer detects and records.

Post-Processing and Analysis: The magnetic data is processed to generate maps showing the location and intensity of magnetic anomalies. These maps help archaeologists identify potential excavation sites or areas of interest, providing a valuable guide for further investigation.

Benefits of Drone-Based Archaeological Surveys

Non-Invasive Exploration: Drone magnetometer surveys allow archaeologists to investigate potential sites without disturbing the ground, preserving the integrity of the site until excavation is necessary.

Efficient Large-Area Coverage: Drones can quickly cover extensive areas, making it easier to survey large or remote archaeological sites compared to traditional, slower ground-based methods.

Precision Mapping: Drones fly at a consistent altitude, ensuring accurate and uniform data collection, leading to high-resolution maps of magnetic anomalies.

Access to Hard-to-Reach Areas: Drones can easily survey terrain that is difficult to access on foot, such as dense forests, hills, or marshlands, making them ideal for remote archaeological exploration.

Cost-Effective: Drone-based surveys reduce the time, labour, and equipment required for archaeological exploration, lowering overall project costs while improving data collection efficiency.

How It Differs from Traditional Methods

Speed and Coverage: Traditional archaeological magnetometer surveys often involve ground teams walking the site with handheld devices, which can be slow and labour-intensive. Drone surveys, in contrast, are much faster and can cover large areas in a fraction of the time.

Accessibility: Ground-based methods are often limited by difficult terrain or vegetation, whereas drones can easily fly over obstacles, providing access to areas that may be unreachable on foot.

Safety: In areas where the terrain is unsafe for people to navigate, such as unstable ground or thick underbrush, drones offer a safe alternative for conducting surveys without risking harm to personnel.

Data Quality: Drone magnetometer systems provide more consistent and accurate data because they maintain a uniform altitude and follow precise flight paths, unlike handheld equipment which can be subject to variability in human operation.

At Sky Sight Facilities Management, we offer state-of-the-art drone-based archaeological surveys using magnetometers. This advanced approach allows archaeologists to explore and map potential sites more efficiently and accurately, helping to guide excavation efforts and protect historical and cultural heritage.