M. Járó - L. Költő szerk.: Archaeometrical research in Hungary (Budapest, 1988)

Prospecting - BENE János, PATTANTYUS- Á. Miklós: Exploration of hidden silver treasures by means of geophysics

time in question. The detection of ancient pits, holes and trenches by magnetic method is a known research task in archaeology (Aitken, 1974). The magnetic effects of these objects is based on the change in soil susceptibility due to soil disturbances, oxidization and the content of organic material. In the case of a recent refuse pit, this relatively slight effect is also strengthened by the expectably great amount of iron scrap. This means that there is a reasonable chance for the indirect detection of the place of hidden silver objects; that is, for the identification of refuse pits, by the magnetic method. In the case of the present research task, we had to rely on the available drawing sketches to a great extent, and the measurements served only to identify the objects on the drawing sketches and to localize them. Magnetic measurements were performed along some profiles at a distance of 1 m, and at sensor heights of 1.8 and 2.4 m. A metal detector with an investigation depth of about 50 cm was used for the localization of small scale and small depth. Complex research and its result Based on examination of the surface features the sites of the barracks and some relevant objects could be identified (Fig. 1). L.J U U U U U U Li r Fig. 1 Site plan of the barracks: a- sites of the barracks (which can be followed up from their traces on the surface); h: places of the surface depressions (one-time latrines) at about the same distance from one another, with serial numbers, and the geophysical profile laid across them (the pig dug out is hatched); c geophysical profile laid across other objects which can be traced on the surface. A, B; smaller heaps (hills); C: surface depression (pit); D: place of the buried (and later excavated) treasures. The plan, which can be seen in the figure, was completed during the prospecting and it also contains the results of the excavation. The available sketches show that there