Count Robert du Mesnil du Buisson (1895-1986), a french precursor in geophysical survey for archaeology
Albert Hesse · Archaeological Prospection · 2000
Geophysical surveys for archaeology are generally considered to have started in 1946 or 1947 with electrical measurements. This assumption neglects several predictions (1934) and experiments (1947) made at very early dates by a French archaeologist (R. du Mesnil du Buisson) who stated several clever and precursory conclusions on different methods. These are still almost unknown probably because they were not published in English until now. The paper gives an account of some interesting aspects of the subject and of historical details about the early times of our discipline. Unsuccessful attempts to establish possible links between R. du Mesnil du Buisson and the most prominent French geophysicists of that time reveals the archaeologist as a particularly independent and perspicacious precursor in this field. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.