ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION AND GROUND WATER HAZARD ASSESSMENT OF THE HAWARA PYRAMID, FAYOUM, EGYPT

Document Type : Research and Reference

Authors

1 Geology department, Faculty of science, Tanta university

2 2 National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Helwan, Egypt

3 Geology department. Faculty of science, Tanta university

4 National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Helwan, Egypt

Abstract

The present study utilizes the Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) methods to investigate the Hawara Pyramid archaeological site, Fayoum, Egypt, located approximately 90 km south west of Cairo, and assess the impact of groundwater on the site's valuable foundations and preserved remains, particularly the Labyrinth mortuary temple complex and its surroundings to the south of the pyramid. The ERT measurements were carried out using the high-quality French device SYSCAL R2 (IRIS company, France).Twenty-five ERT profiles were conducted along the areas surrounding the pyramid. The 2D Electrical resistivity were processed with RES2DINV software. The TEM data were acquired at three sites comprising the pyramid, the Labyrinth, and the nearby cultivated land, measured by SIROTEM MK3 conductivity meter employing the coincident loop configuration. TEM data were inverted to a 1-D scheme using the TEMIX XL 4 program (2000), assuming layered-earth models. A careful analysis of the combined ERT and TEM results indicates the presence of some near-surface archaeological remains. It also indicates that the site suffers from a rising groundwater level that may impact it seriously. This threat has been attributed to the increasing agricultural activities where the flooding irrigation system dominates in the planted areas surrounding the pyramid site, eventually leading to continuous surface water infiltration and a rise of the subsurface water level.

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