| Popis: |
Mahram Bilqis, the largest pre-islamic sanctuary complex in all of Arabia, is reported in folklore to be the temple where the Queen of Sheba worshipped the gods. The remains of the temple are located near Marib in the Republic of Yemen. Currently, only the top of a large curved wall and a few structural and monumental pillars are visible above the desert sands. Initial investigations at the site indicate that the sanctuary had a longevity of over 1300 years and that it was in use until about 500 AD. Having been covered by sediment for most of the rest of its history, the true magnitude of this site is unknown. As part of a large multidisciplinary collaborative research effort, an extensive geophysical survey was conducted in 1999 and 2001. An area of approximately 20,000 m2 was surveyed using three different methods: ground penetrating radar, magnetics and low induction number electromagnetics (EM31), combined with drilling and direct investigations of the physical properties of the fine sand covering the archaeological remains. The properties of this sand, mainly its relatively high conductivity, make for unfavorable conditions. However, the integration of all three methods reveals a very rich and complex site with archaeological structures buried below most if not all of the surveyed area. |
