The paper presents the results of high-precision magnetic surveys by a quantum magnetometer using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The object of research was an area of 10 hectares (500 × 200 m) at the archaeological site of New Kurya in Western Siberia. The accuracy of the registration of the induction module of the geomagnetic field was not lower than 0.3 nT. The spatial accuracy of GPS coordinates lies in the submeter range. Magnetic anomalies caused by ancient mounds with an amplitude of up to 5–10 nT were revealed. The technique for isolating such low-amplitude anomalies included taking into account the geomagnetic variations of the external field, the regional anomalous field, and the use of a number of algorithms for the statistical processing of primary data. Identified magnetic anomalies can reliably determine the features of the device and the size of the mounds, including those not expressed in relief. The information received makes it possible to plan a strategy for archaeological study of this monument at a qualitatively different level. The prospects of further development and use of the technology in question for solving archaeological problems are noted.

Summary Comprehensive geophysical studies were conducted on two archaeological sites - Ust-Tartas barrows and Tartas-1. Magnetic gradient survey has been done here before, but its effectiveness has been reduced due to littering of the area and low contrast of magnetic properties. The paper shows that electrical and electromagnetic methods significantly complement the results of magnetic surveys. Electromagnetic profiling was used to solve search problems. A detailed study of the structure of the objects found was carried out by additional methods: electrotomography and multiple-height magnetic survey.

Summary High-precision magnetic survey with a quantum magnetometer using a UVA drone was carried out on a 10-hectare area (500 * 200 m) at the archaeological monument, Novaya Kurya in Western Siberia. The average survey height was about 5 m. The registration accuracy of the geomagnetic field induction module was not lower than 0.5 nT. At the same time, the spatial accuracy of GPS coordinates lies in the submeter range. The study revealed magnetic anomalies caused by ancient barrows. The amplitudes of magnetic anomalies amounted to values up to 10 nT. The ring structure of these anomalies clearly appeared on the map of the anomalous magnetic field after considering the solar-diurnal variation. The application of this technique allowed us to establish complete suitability for this type of archaeological research using UAV.

We present the most informative results of archeological and geophysical field studies of the Baraba forest-steppe over the last three years. The studies of the archeological sites of different types belonging to a wide time interval (similar to 6000 BC-2000 AD) were carried out. Data on the presence, size, and configuration of archeological objects were obtained by magnetometry and electrometry. We studied contrast between the magnetic properties of the upper horizon of present-day soil and underlying substratum at archeological sites of different types and ages. Low contrast reduces amplitudes of magnetic anomalies above buried ancient structures. It has been shown that geoelectric methods are efficient in cases when magnetometry is not. (C) 2016, V.S. Sobolev IGM, Siberian Branch of the RAS. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.