Geophysical prospection
by Colin Shell
During the first part of August, a further 0.9 hectares of the surface of the main east mound were surveyed magnetically with a Geoscan Research FM36 fluxgate gradiometer, employing the same procedures as in previous years, with readings recorded within successive 20 metre squares at 0.25m intervals along north-oriented traverses at 0.5m separation. The survey area extended from 20 metres north of the main trig point on the summit south to the 900 metre grid line. The area was constrained on the west by the remains of Mellaart痴 excavations and the associated spoil tips. The principal slopes of the main mound south and east of the summit were investigated.
Initial analysis of the data shows some difference in the results from those obtained on the northern subsidiary summit of the east mound and the northern slopes of the main mound. There is very little evidence of the large areas of burnt ashy spread encountered further north on the main mound, with perhaps similar traces visible just in the northwest and northeast corners of the 1996 survey area.
There are fewer direct indications of rectilinear mud brick structures, whilst those that are apparent are mainly oriented northeast-southwest: for example at (980,960) and just north thereof, and at (1025,965). The size of the enclosed spaces is similar to that of the rooms revealed by the survey on the north summit. There is only one location (1015,1015) where the characteristic signal from significant burning within a structure is resolved, though similar features also may be found in the area just to the south west of this point.
A large rectilinear feature of a size not previously encountered in the magnetic survey is a possible building or platform structure, some 8 metres square, located at (1030, 910) at the southern end of the survey area. The mud brick walls may be up to 1 metre in thickness. The structure may be post-neolithic in date, but should be noted as having the same orientation as a group of possible buildings of recognized size a few metres to the north-east (1035,925).
Spread across a large proportion the 1996 survey area are a large number of near point features, some 1 to 2 metres in size, which may represent the disturbance associated with later burials inserted into the mound, evidence for which was frequently found during the survey in the recent upcast from animal burrows. These no doubt contributed to the lower visibility of the underlying features. Further image processing of the data may reveal a more consistent pattern.