THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL STUDY OF DEFENSE WORKS*

The following article discusses a methodology of the study of earthworks based on the combined application of archaeological and geophysical methods. This methodology enables scholars to identify archaeological objects which are not exposed to the earth's surface, to reconstruct their shape, and to determine their geometrical parameters. Archaeological excavations provide an opportunity to correlate observed anomalies with real objects. The final step within this methodology involves building a three-dimensional reconstruction of defense works based on geophysical data. The effectiveness of this approach has been demonstrated through the archaeological and geophysical study of Idnakar which is one of the largest medieval, fortified settlements in the Kama region.