Quantitative analysis of self-potential anomalies in archaeological sites of Israel: an overview

Self-potential (SP) method is one of the most non-expensive and unsophisticated geophysical methods. However, its application limits absence of reliable interpreting methodology, first for the complex geological–environmental conditions. The typical disturbances appearing in the SP method and ways for their removing (elimination) are discussed. Some brief review of the available interpretation methods indicates their insufficient effectivity, especially for the complex environments. For the magnetic method of geophysical prospecting, special quantitative procedures applicable under non-trivial environments (oblique polarization, rugged relief and unknown level of the normal field) have been recently developed. Performed analysis allowed to revealing some essential common peculiarities between the magnetic and SP fields. These common aspects make it possible to apply the advanced procedures developed in magnetic prospecting to SP method. Besides the reliable determination of the depth of anomalous target, these methodologies enable to calculate the polarization effect and corrections for the non-horizontal SP observations. For classification of SP anomalies is supposed to employ a new parameter—‘self-potential moment’. These procedures (improved modifications of characteristic point and tangent techniques) have been successfully tested on SP models and employed in the real situations in various archaeological sites in Israel. The present paper generalizes the earlier performed studies. The obtained results indicate the practical importance of the developed methodology.