Non-invasive survey of the Wanda Mound

Archaeologists and geophysicists conducted non-invasive survey over the Wanda Mound in Nowa Huta, near Kraków, Poland. The survey was a part of a larger project of investigating the structure of the mound and its origin.

Research at the site (by Joanna Urbaniec)

The recent survey was another one stage of the research. Earlier, the mound was surveyed by experts from the AGH University of Science and Technology from Kraków, and private company Georadar from Wrocław. Now, the research was conducted by archaeologists from the Vistula Association with geoelectric and GPR measurements. The antenna used in the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey has a maximum depth of penetration up to over a dozen metres, so it could reach even the base of the mound.

Survey with the GPR (by Przemysław Błaszczyk)

The next stage of the project is the integration of results that will allow for choosing places of further investigation. As for now coring is considered as a next step of research. Meanwhile results of the GPR survey revealed a couple of unidentified anomalies. The mound was penetrated to the depth of 16 metres, measured from the top. The researchers created a hypothesis about a possible presence of a burial chamber within the mound.

Results of the survey (by GPR24)

The mound dates possibly to the 7th-8th century AD. So far it was not possible to determine if there is a burial chamber in the mound, and whether it could be located in the central or peripheral are of the mound. The project’s report is scheduled for publication in the end of January.

Survey with the GPR (by Przemysław Błaszczyk)
Moving the GPR up the mound (by Przemysław Błaszczyk)

(after TVN24, RMF24, GPR24, Przemysław Błaszczyk, RMF MAXXX & JoannaUrbaniec)

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