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

Fig. 3 Magnetic profile over the other surface objects (Fig. 1, c). Sensor heights are a. 1.8 m; b.- 2.4 m; c: schematic drawing of the surface. A.- scrap-heap; B: topographic hill; C. depression of the refuse pit. Under the profile the magnetic anomaly map of the two objects can be seen (dotted line: the external-internal perimeters of the hill and the pit; hatched: the position of the chest with the treasures in the pit at a depth of about 2 m). Both on the profile and on the map the sharp anomaly of the scrap-heap (A) indicates a near surface body, while the extended, unambiguous anomaly of the refuse pit (C) suggests a great amount of buried metal and other wastes. (No territorial survey was performed on object B on the basis of the profile.) beneath a 10 to 20 cm thick layer of garbage actually concealed the wooden chest looked for; the position in the pit of this chest is shown in Figure 4. The chest was filled with groundwater thus, unfortunately, the objects made of wood and textile had become almost completely spoilt. The silver objects, however - in their present state after restoration -,look splendid. Conclusions The example presented shows that although geophysical prospecting is only a single step in the process of archaeological work it is none the less very important. This expedition was launched with mixed feelings: in particular, there was great concern as to whether the treasures sought could be found in the short time available since there would hardly have been time for a dense grid magnetic survey of the whole area. The meticulous data collecting work of the historians and the careful surface examination of the area were prerequisites of the successful work, to which the measurements contributed by justifying or rejecting the preliminary data and suppositions. In the given case, the age (by means of tree rings) of the trees in the area had also to be examined because the area has been planted with trees since the time of hiding the treasures and there were both old and younger pine trees in the area. The individual surface depressions could also be the filled pits for wood planting. In this case, the age determination of finds could be omitted from the process of the complex research after exploration, but the relics — enriching the