Pioneer application of a dynamic penetrometer and boroscope in
archeological prospecting
Application pionnière d'un pénétromètre et d'un boroscope
dynamiques dans la prospection archéologique
José L. RANGEL-NUÑEZ
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico City, Mexico, jrangeln62@gmail.com
Diana MOLATORE
Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Mexico City, Mexico
Luis BARBA
Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas de la UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
Efraín OVANDO-SHELLEY
Gabriel AUVINET-GUICHARD
Enrique IBARRA-RAZO
Instituto de Ingeniería de la UNAM, Mexico City, México
Thème(s) : Archeology, Geothecnical exploration
ABSTRACT
This paper presents a pioneer application of a geotechnical technique in archeological prospecting. A light
dynamic penetrometer and geo-boroscope were applied to determinate the superficial stratigraphic profile at
the Gran Basamento de Cacaxtla, in areas where walls and floors present important cracks. From the
geotechnical point of view, the Gran Basamento is an artificial topographic elevation conformed by
heterogeneous fills (mainly tuff rock fragments, silty and sandy soils) where prehispanic structures have been
built (from 450 bC to 900 aC). There is a huge lack of knowledge about the mechanical characteristics and
position of the soil deposits or buried archeological structures. The interpretation of the results shows that it is
possible to have a very good idea of the characteristics and distribution of the superficial soil deposits and
evaluate the origin and crack mechanisms to avoid slope and walls instabilities, but it is also possible to
identify stages construction of the pyramid for the hypothetical reconstruction of the layers and structures that
conform this archeological monument.
It was possible to identify the superficial strata profile of a Gran Basamento de Cacaxtla using a light dynamic
penetrometer with a geo-boroscope. Based on the geotechnical information, pre-hispanic floors at different
construction stages were correlated with high point cone resistant, and very loose granular material with low
cone resistant which was a risk condition in slope stabilization. Both conditions were verified visually with a
geo-boroscope.