Reconstructing planigraphy of the Golden Horde period caravanserai Kulish (Western Kazakhstan) on the basis of a Magnetic Survey

At the initial stage of the study of the Kulish caravanserai, a magnetic survey was carried out in order to non-destructively investigate the layout of the site prior to archaeological excavations. Magnetic survey was carried out using a Foerster Ferex 4.032 gradient magnetometer, which is designed for precision magnetic survey. As a result, a magnetic map with detailed contours of the caravanserai was created. Analyses of the obtained data made it possible to carry out a detailed reconstruction of its planigraphy. The reconstruction process consisted of three stages: 1) Drawing the contours of the anomalies on the magnetic map and their primary interpretation; 2) Search for similar caravanserais in the neighbouring territory, studied earlier. Comparison of the primary interpretation of the magnetic map with the plans of excavated complexes (8 objects). Correction of the primary interpretation; 3) Drawing of the final plan and description of the caravanserai. The obtained reconstruction will allow in the future to develop the most optimal plan for research, preservation and museification of the Kulish caravanserai. The experience of using magnetic survey, as well as the algorithm of reconstructing the planigraphy of the Kulish caravanserai can be applied for non-destructive study of other caravanserais and similar archaeological sites that will be discovered in the future.

在库利什驿站研究初期阶段，为在考古发掘前无损探究遗址布局，开展了磁力测量工作。本次磁力测量采用福斯泰尔Ferex 4.032梯度磁力计进行，该设备专为精密磁力测量设计。据此，绘制了驿站详尽的磁力等值线图。对所获数据的分析使得对驿站地形图的精细重建成为可能。重建过程分为三个阶段：1）在磁力等值线图上绘制异常区域的轮廓及其初步解释；2）在邻近地区寻找先前已研究的类似驿站，并将磁力等值线图的初步解释与已发掘的综合体（8个对象）的平面图进行对比，以纠正初步解释；3）绘制最终平面图并对驿站进行描述。所得重建结果将有助于未来制定最优化研究、保护和博物馆化的库利什驿站规划。磁力测量技术的应用以及库利什驿站地形图重建算法的经验，可用于未来发现的其它驿站及类似考古遗址的无损研究。