ORIGINAL PAPER

2-D and 3-D resistivity in the area of the Menkaure Pyramid Giza,Egypt

Abbas Mohamed Abbas Æ Sultan Awad Sultan ÆFernando A. Monteiro Santos

Received: 31 July 2007 / Accepted: 28 February 2008 / Published online: 26 March 2008

� Springer-Verlag 2008

Abstract An area 47 9 26 m adjacent to the Queens’

pyramids near the Menkaure Pyramid, Giza, was examined

using 14 parallel Wenner-Schlumberger profiles at 2 m

intervals with a 1 m electrode spacing. Most of the

inverted 3-D models show moderate resistivity values at

shallow depths. However, in two places higher resistivity

values identified two elongate features. One may corre-

spond to a 2 9 8 m solar boat placed near the pyramid

while the other may indicate a 5 9 20 m N–S room with a

mud brick roof.

Keywords Resistivity inversion �Archaeological prospection � Menkaure Pyramid �Giza

Resume Une surface de 47 m 9 26 m voisine des

pyramides des Reines, pres de la pyramide de Menkaure

(Gizeh), a ete etudiee a partir de quatorze profils Wenner-

Schlumberger paralleles, espaces de 2 m, les electrodes

etant distantes de 1 m. La plupart des modeles d’inversion

3-D montrent des resistivites moderees a faible profondeur.

Cependant, en deux endroits, des valeurs de plus forte

resistivite dessinent deux structures allongees. L’une peut

correspondre a une barque solaire de 2 m 9 8 m placee

pres de la pyramide, tandis que l’autre peut correspondre a

une piece N-S de 5 m 9 20 m avec un toit de briques.

Mots cles Inversion de resistivite �Prospection archeologique � Pyramide de Menkaure �Gizeh

Introduction

Geophysical techniques are useful in identifying archaeo-

logical targets. The specific method used differs according

to whether the targets are likely to be resistive or con-

ductive structures relative to the host stratum.

The paper discusses a geophysical investigation over an

area of 47 9 26 m into the possible presence of a ‘‘solar

boat’’ adjacent to one of the Queens’ pyramids, part of the

Menkaure Pyramid complex at Giza (Fig. 1). According to

ancient Egyptian burial rituals, a ‘‘solar boat’’ was placed

close to the deceased so that he could journey into the

afterlife.

The pyramid plateau, part of the Middle Eocene

Mokattam Formation, is largely comprised of limestone

and dolomites (Aigner 1983), overlain in the Menkaure’s

pyramid zone by the marly limestone and sandy marls of

the Upper Eocene Maadi Formation. The strata dip gently

to the south east.

Data processing and interpretation

Sultan (2004) quotes several successful examples when

only one geophysical technique was used. In the present

study, 14 parallel Wenner-Schlumberger profiles were

carried out at 2 m intervals with an electrode spacing of

1.0 m. The measured data were inverted using the

A. M. Abbas � S. A. Sultan (&)

National Research Institute

of Astronomy and Geophysics,

Helwan 11722, Egypt

e-mail: sultan_awad@yahoo.com

S. A. Sultan � F. A. M. Santos

Center of Geophysics,

University of Lisbon, Campo Grande Ed. C8,

1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal

123

Bull Eng Geol Environ (2008) 67:411–414

DOI 10.1007/s10064-008-0142-5

RES3DINV inversion program (Loke 1999), which auto-

matically creates a three-dimensional (3-D) resistivity

model for the subsurface. The inversion routine used by the

program is based on the smoothness-constrained least-

squares method (DeGroot-Hedlin and Constable 1990;

Sasaki 1992). A new implementation of the least-squares

method based on a quasi-Newton optimization technique

(Loke and Barker 1996a, b) could also be used. The

inversion program splits the subsurface into small rectan-

gular prisms and estimates the true resistivity of the prisms,

minimizing the difference between the calculated and

observed apparent resistivity values.

Results of 3-D inversion

The results of the 3-D inversion are shown in Fig. 2 as

seven horizontal slices between 0.25 and 4.95 m depth.

Near the surface (depth: 0.25–1.4 m) there is a large var-

iation in the resistivity values (100–1,500 ohm/m),

reflecting the presence of marly and fractured limestone.

Below this (2.2 and 3.0 m) the relatively low resistivity

values are more concentrated in the north west part of the

survey where they have a predominantly NE–SW align-

ment, with one particular elongated zone indicated as ‘‘C’’

in Fig. 2. Another low resistivity feature having a N–S

trend is displayed in the easternmost part of the survey

(‘‘B’’ in Fig. 2).

Discussion and conclusions

The resistivity method was used to obtain an image of the

subsurface in a small area close to the three Queens’ pyr-

amids located south of the Pharoah Menkaure’s pyramid.

3-D inverse resistivity models show large variations

reflecting the geological environment, which is dominated

by marly limestone and the presence of buried structures.

The near-surface geology is characterized by moderate to

low resistivity values (100–400 ohm/m). The presence of

probable archaeological structures, especially between 2.2

and 4 m are associated with high resistivity values

([1,000 ohm/m).

In the eastern part of the area there is an indication of a

N–S trending elongate room some 5 9 20 m, identified by

very high resistivity (‘‘B’’ in Fig. 2) from 2.2–5.0 m. The

low resistivity values (A) between 0.25 and 1.4 m are

probably associated with mud bricks over this room. The

high resistivity values in the northwestern part of the area

at 0.25–3.0 m (C) may indicate a ditch in which a 2 9 8 m

solar boat is located.

Unfortunately to date it has not been possible to check

these findings by open excavation. Nevertheless, this short

case history indicates that geophysical methods can be a

useful tool in investigating probable archaeological arte-

facts; the shape determined (C) being consistent with the

speculated presence of a solar boat. The case study draws

attention to the value of this non-intrusive technique when

investigating differences in ground conditions of engi-

neering significance.

Fig. 1 The study area and its location

412 A. M. Abbas et al.

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Fig. 2 3-D horizontal slices for

seven depths between 0.25 and

5.0 m

Resistivity near Menkaure Pyramid, Giza 413

123

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