ABSTRACT
The electrical resistance of the ground is almost entirely dependent upon the amount and distribution of moisture within it. Buried remains affect this distribution, and can be detected with instruments. Stone, for instance, is generally more moisture-resistant than a clay subsoil or the soil filling of a ditch, while soils will hold differing proportions of water depending on their texture. Clay and soil may have resistivities of 1-10 ohmmetres (W-m), and porous rocks 100-1,000 W-m, while non-porous rocks will rise to anything between 103 and 106 W-m. These differences may be distinguished by measurements of the resistivity of the ground, enabling archaeological remains to be discovered and planned.
