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.在库利什商队驿站（Kulish caravanserai）研究的初始阶段，为在考古发掘前以非破坏性方式探明遗址布局，研究团队开展了考古磁法勘探工作。本次磁法勘探采用专为高精度磁测设计的Foerster Ferex 4.032梯度磁力仪完成。最终生成了带有该商队驿站详细磁异常轮廓的磁测图。对获取数据的分析，实现了该驿站平面布局的精细化复原。本次复原工作共分为三个阶段：1）在磁测图上绘制磁异常轮廓并开展初步解译；2）检索此前已完成研究的邻域内同类商队驿站遗存，将磁测图的初步解译结果与已发掘的8处遗址复合体的平面图进行比对，修正初步解译结论；3）绘制最终复原平面图并完成该商队驿站的相关描述。本次所得的复原成果，将为后续制定库利什商队驿站的研究、保护与文博活化最优方案提供重要支撑。本次磁法勘探的实践经验，以及库利什商队驿站平面布局复原的技术流程，均可推广应用于未来发现的其他商队驿站及同类考古遗址的非破坏性勘探研究。