Geophysical and Geochemical survey at the site of Magjerica

In the second half of May 2017, CeRPHAAL, in collaboration with the University of Sheffield, and the University of ‘Aleksandër Xhuvani’ in Elbasan, undertook the second season of geophysical and geochemical investigation at the site of Magjerica.

This year, a broader resistance geophysical survey was conducted at the site. The site was divided into four main areas, and the targeted survey locations were further subdivided into 30m x 30m blocks. Within each block, readings were taken at 1-meter intervals (900 readings per survey block), resulting in a total of 28,614 readings across an area of 2. 86 ha.

The geochemical survey was carried out along with the geophysical investigation, covering those areas of the site that had not been surveyed during the 2016 field campaign. Using a NITON XLT 3 HHpXRF device, samples were collected at 10-meter intervals, as fixed by a handheld GPS. The results indicated that areas with the most distinct chemical activities closely correlated with highest geophysical anomalies and zones of dense material scatters identified during the pedestrian survey.
The survey yielded significant results, particularly in locating areas of potential structural remains, which will be the focus of future excavations planned for later this year