Integrated Geophysical and Archaeological Research of Historic Gardens and Landscapes in the Czech Republic
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| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | This paper presents selected applications of geophysical prospection in the investigation and restoration of historical gardens and landscaped heritage sites in the Czech Republic. It focuses on the integration of non-destructive geophysical methods—primarily ground-penetrating radar (GPR), complemented in some cases by magnetometry—into the planning of archaeological research and the revitalization of protected cultural monuments. The contribution discusses several case studies from castle and chateau parks and gardens, where geophysical survey formed a key step between archival study and targeted archaeological excavation. The results demonstrate that non-invasive prospection can successfully identify buried garden layouts, former communication networks, water-management features, demolished garden structures, and later disturbances. Special attention is paid to situations in which geophysical results directly informed excavation strategies and restoration decisions, reducing destructive interventions and improving the precision of heritage management measures. The presented examples illustrate that the close integration of geophysical survey and archaeological verification represents an efficient and sensitive approach to the exploration and renewal of historic gardens and monument sites. |