ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on the basic principles of geophysics specifically aimed at those with a minimal background in mathematics and physical sciences but more than a casual interest in the application of geophysics to archaeology. It provides a reference for archaeologists and others interested in near-surface geophysical applications to assess the viability of these specific geophysical methods for site investigations and, in most cases, to allow them a reasonable understanding of data interpretation. Geophysicists, like archaeologists, tend to specialize and, as such, have expertise or preferences for certain geophysical methods. In environmental engineering, geophysics is frequently used to characterize the shallow subsurface and to locate buried waste. Historically and traditionally, geophysics has been a discipline used to characterize the large-scale, deep structure of the earth and for petroleum and mineral exploration.
