Geophysical survey of the Iberian site (seventh-third centuries bc) of Masies de Sant Miquel (Catalonia, Spain). Interpretative challenges of geophysical data of an Iberian town

Geophysical surveys based on ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetic methods have recently been carried out at the Iberian site of Masies de Sant Miquel, which is dated to the Iron Age (seventh-third centuries bc). The design and execution of the survey are presented, as well as the interpretation process, which is based on the interaction between the members of the prospection team (SOT Prospection) and the archaeologists from the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC), integrating geophysical as well as archaeological data. Although the site had previously been studied during the 1980s and 1990s, excavations have been limited in scope and the settlement remained largely unknown. The new research discussed in this article makes it possible to deduce the general traits of the urban plan and the major architectural features. The results confirm the urban nature of the site, not only due to its size (several densely-occupied hectares), but also the complexity of its architecture and urban planning.