Investigate the layout and age of a large‐scale mausoleum in Hangzhou, China using combined geophysical technologies and archaeological documents

Abstract Geophysical techniques are used to detect mounds and burial chambers, but detecting the shape and layout of large mausoleums containing main tombs and ancillary facilities is a developing field. The shape and layout of mausoleums are closely related to cultural practices. In this study, integrated geophysical technologies were used to survey a large‐scale mausoleum in Hangzhou, China. The layout of the main tomb was deduced from magnetic gradient measurements, and the depth and scale were inferred from electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). The location and burial depth of ancillary facilities, including the mausoleum path, were characterized using the depth (time) slice of ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) three‐dimensional (3D) attribute analysis. An integrated interpretation of geophysical results combined with archaeological documents provides the plan and section layouts of the mausoleum. Based on integrated analyses and archaeological documents, the age of the mausoleum was inferred (middle to late Southern Song Dynasty). Subsequent test excavations partly confirmed the results and showed that the combination of geophysical technologies and archaeological documents are effective and valuable for detecting large‐scale mausoleums.