Archeology, in the past decade and into the new millennium, is trending more toward preservation and reduction of destructive excavation. Within the United States, archeological research, Cultural Resource Management (CRM) work, the National Park Service and other government agencies are all dedicated to the preservation of the country's national heritage.

GSSI applauds the efforts of these groups and supports their goals through the development of geophysical surveying systems and software that non-invasively, non-destructively map the subsurface and the features within it. The main geophysical methods employed in archeological work are:

• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
• Magnetrometry
• Resistivity
• Conductivity

Among the primary benefits of geophysical survey applications ...

• Archeologists are able to map/profile existing and potential sites without extensive excavation.

• Survey information gathered using non-invasive methods contributes to the creation of site strategies, conservation, preservation and, if necessary, accurate location of excavation units.

• These methods reduce the cost, time and risk associated with archeological investigations.

• Geophysical survey techniques can be used to examine historic buildings and structures and their surrounding properties so that archeologists and other professionals responsible for heritage preservation are able to assess the integrity of the structures and, where necessary, take action - without destructive testing methods.

Below is a Document laying out the basics of Archeological Method in Surveying