Geophysical survey of tumuli in the Valley of the Kings, central Bulgaria. Prognosis and archaeological evidence

This article provides detailed information from geophysical survey of funeral tumuli in one of the Thracian cultural centres from the Classical and hellenistic periods in the region of the ancient town of Seuthopolis. The characteristics of the morphology of Thracian tumuli and the burial structures discovered in them are described briefly. The method used—apparent electroresistivity technique on radial-circular and rectangular grids with the Schlumberger array—is described. Examples are given to show the advantages of geophysical survey in advance of excavations of ancient monuments, for identifying optimum position, as well as for providing information on their future protection and exhibition.