2-D velocity structure of the buried ancient canal of Xerxes: an application of seismic methods in archaeology

An ancient buried canal whose existence had been disputed even in antiquity has been detected and described by the modern seismic methods of geophysic s. Its dimensions concur with those described by the ancient historian, Her odotus. The 2-km long canal is located in the Chalkidiki peninsula in north ern Greece, and was constructed some 2500 years ago by the Persian King Xer xes. Beyond the classical processing of the seismic data, inverse seismic modeli ng was also implemented, giving an improved and more complete picture. The inverse modeling tested the validity of the results of the seismic refracti on and reflection seismics and provided 2-D velocity structure profiles. Ov er much of the isthmus, it was possible to trace the route of the ancient c anal by connecting the deepest points of all the sections. (C) 2001 Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.