389 
CONTRIBUTION OF GEOPHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS FOR SURVEY AND 
PROTECTION OF HILLFORTS 
R. Krivanek 
Institute of Archaeology of Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, Letenskâ 4, CZ-118 01 Praha 1, Czech Republic, 
tel.: +420-2-575 33 782, fax: +420-2-575 32 288, email: krivanek@arup.cas.cz 
Task Group TG3 
KEY WORD: archaeology, geophysics, surveying, measurements, mapping, identification, hillfort, fortification 
ABSTRACT: 
Paper describes the present new way and possibility of application of non-destructive geophysical method for survey of the whole 
hillforts in Czech republic. Remains of archaeological activities on hillforts are very often non-preserved on the surface of present 
remodeled terrains. The results of quick and very efficient magnetometric measurements applied in large scale of ha could contribute 
to new documentation of important archaeological monuments where it is possible to recognize also various subsurface 
archaeological situations. Choosen examples from finished or present archaeological projects should present efficiency of 
geophysical surveys and use of these results as in archaeology as for better evidence and adequate protection of landscape of hillforts 
as archaeological monument. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
The hillfort is one from the most common and typical 
archaeological monuments in landscape of many european 
countries. Very common it is also use of important, strategic 
or dominant sites in more prehistoric (neolithic, eneolithic, 
bronze age, iron age, roman) or early medieval periods. 
Various types of these fortified centres of settlement have 
very often specific or strategic location, characteristic land 
use, typical shape, dimensions or orientation of site 
respecting terrain situation. According to the practical use of 
particular parts of site we can also suppose more different 
anthropogenous activities inside and outside of hillfort 
(settlement, production, burial cemetery areas,...). At present 
time approx. 340 hillforts in Czech republic are included and 
protected as archaeological monument, but the final no. of 
hillforts will be very probably even much higher. Large 
dimensions of hillforts (varying in czech archeology between 
0,X ha and more than 100 ha) and the real (financial, personal 
or time) possibilities of archaeological research does not offer 
to have a detailed information about more than only smaller 
part of only some choosen sites. For more complexed 
information about the whole hillfort - potential 
archaeological monument it is necessary to combine precise 
results of archeological excavations (if there are any) within 
results of archaeological non-destructive survey methods 
(aerial or geophysical survey) which we can use for 
identification and mapping of the main only in subsurface 
preserved archaeological situation in scale of the whole site. 
The result of aerial prospection it is possible to use for 
preliminary new or quantitative evidence and documentation 
of hillforts. The result of geophysical measurements it is 
possible also to use for qualitative documentation and more 
precise separation of hillforts and also for identification of 
particular archaeological situations and features (Krivanek 
2000). Experiences from new archaeological projects in 
Bohemia showed the most efficient ways of survey of new 
discovered or previous known or excavated hillforts. 
2. EXAMPLES OF RESULTS IN PROJECTS 
The first complexed non-destructive (including geophysical) 
surveys of hillforts were carried out in the archaeological 
project "Settlement Pattern of Prehistoric Bohemia" (Gojda et 
al. 1997-2002, Grant Agency of the Czech Republic - 
404/97/K024). Subsequent application of area magnetometric 
surveys by 2 Cs-magnetometers (gradient variant of 
Smartmag SM-4g, Scintrex, Canada) together with 
systematic field walking survey and GPS measurement 
(Trimble Pathfinder TDC1, USA) contribute to identification 
of the surface unpreserved remnants of fortification systems 
and another activities on arable areas of new discovered or 
proved hillforts by aerial photography (Gojda 2000; Krivanek 
1999, 2002). Geophysical (mainly magnetometric) surveys 
were focussed to verification of new results of aerial 
prospection and to more precise identification of subsurface 
remains of fortification of hillforts. 
Very important loss of origin archaeological terrains in 
agricultural regions we could document on abandoned and