Analysis of ground penetrating radar data from the tunnel beneath the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in Teotihuacan, Mexico, using new multi-cross algorithms

TL;DR

This study introduces two new multivariable wavelet algorithms, MCW and FMC, for analyzing GPR data from archaeological sites, successfully identifying subsurface stratigraphy and material properties beneath the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in Teotihuacan.

Contribution

The paper presents novel multi-cross wavelet and Fourier multi-cross algorithms for multivariable GPR data analysis, enhancing subsurface stratigraphy detection in archaeological research.

Findings

Identified periods of subsurface strata and materials using new algorithms.

Determined similarities between tunnel and chamber fillings.

Demonstrated potential for resource detection on celestial bodies.

Abstract

As multichannel equipment is increasingly used, we developed two algorithms for multivariable wavelet analysis of GPR signals (multi-cross wavelet MCW and Fourier multi-cross function FMC) and applied them to analyze raw GPR traces of archeological subsurface strata. The traces were from the tunnel located beneath the Temple of the Feathered Serpent (The Citadel, Teotihuacan, Mexico). The MCW and FMC algorithms determined the periods of subsurface strata of the tunnel. GPR traces inside-and-outside the tunnel/chamber, outside the tunnel/chamber and inside the tunnel/chamber analyzed with the MCW and filtered FMC algorithms determined the periods of the tunnel and chamber fillings, clay and matrix (limestone-clay compound). The tunnel filling period obtained by MCW analysis (14.37 ns) reflects the mixed limestone-clay compound of this stratum since its value is close to that of the period of the matrix (15.22 ns); periods of the chamber filling (11.40 ns) and the matrix (11.40 ns) were almost identical. FMC analysis of the tunnel obtained a period (5.08 ns) close to that of the chamber (4.27 ns), suggesting the tunnel and chamber are filled with similar materials. The use of both algorithms allows a deeper analysis since the similarities of the tunnel and chamber filling periods could not have been determined with the MCW algorithm alone. The successful application of the new multi-cross algorithms to archeological GPR data suggests they may also be used to search water and other resources in celestial bodies.