The Geopager Archaeology team has successfully qualified for the UpGreat «Экспедиция» challenge at the Bolgar site

On June 16-17, the qualification stage of the UpGreat «Экспедиция» technology competition took place at the Bolgar ancient settlement. The Geopager Archaeology team (the Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Quantum Magnetometry at the Ural Federal University, Quantum Magnetic Pipe Test LLC, Volgadorstroy LLC, and Unipark Research and Production Center) successfully demonstrated their developments. The results were confirmed by an expert commission that included Elvira Arturovna Fatkhiy.

The UpGreat «Экспедиция» competition aims to create advanced non-destructive methods for detecting hidden objects – archaeological artifacts (metal, pottery, wood, stone) both on the surface and in the ground. “The Bolgar ancient settlement is an ideal test site for such trials. Our past research has proven that combining geophysics and archaeology yields breakthrough results,” noted Ayrat Sitdikov, Director of the IA TAS.

Following successful qualification at the Bolgar site, the Geopager Archaeology team is preparing for the final trials, which will be held in the Tver, Nizhny Novgorod, and Vladimir regions. We remind you that the Institute of Archaeology TAS, acting as the team’s scientific coordinator, possesses significant experience in comprehensive geophysical research: In 2017, specialists from the IA TAS conducted extensive magnetometric surveys at the Bolgar site, revealing a system of ceramic kilns near Lake Galankino and elements of urban development (https://evrazstep.ru/index.php/aes/article/view/391). In 2016, they refined methodologies for detecting pottery production complexes with up to 90% accuracy, proved by excavations (http://archaeologie.pro/ru/archive/24/468/).