NS41B-3843:
Preliminary Geophysical Survey for Assessing the Geotechnical Conditions and Geohazards at Huaca de La Luna, Peru
Thursday, 18 December 2014
Guillermo Jose Zavala1, Saulo Lopez1, Cynthia J Ebinger2, Miguel A Pando3, Catherine Lambert2, Ricardo Morales4, Santiago Uceda4, Renato Perucchio2, Benjamin Castaneda1 and Rafael Aguilar1, (1)Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Lima, Peru, (2)University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States, (3)University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States, (4)Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Peru
Abstract:
This paper presents results of near surface geophysical tests to help assess the geotechnical conditions of the archaeological complex of Huaca de la Luna located near the coastal city of Trujillo, Peru. This area of Peru has experienced damaging earthquakes and tsunamis in historic time. The huaca complex is a massive adobe temple progressively built by the Moche civilization from 100 AD to 650 AD. The geophysical tests carried out included Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), magnetic gradiometer, and Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) to help assess geotechnical conditions such as buried cavities and hallways, thickness and elastic properties of sand sediments, and the depth to the underlying granitic bedrock. The tests were performed to help with the investigation of structural damage observed along a massive adobe wall (north façade) which has shown signs of distress including fissures, settlements, and other damage. The geophysical results together with detailed Lidar surveying are being used as part of this investigation and highlight the usefulness of these non-destructive techniques for archaeological and historical sites.
