Confirming Archaeological Excavation Results with Ground Penetrating Radar: The Main Courtyard of Corvin Castle

The conservation of historic cultural heritage sites is an endeavor that often brings together a diverse group of methods and interests. Castelul Corvinilor, also called Corvin's Castle or Hunedoara Castle, in central Transylvania (Hunedoara county, Romania) is no exception. The first stone fortification of the medieval castle can be dated to the 14^th century and has undergone significant expansion since the original structure was completed. The main building campaigns started in 1440 with the conversion of the fortress into a castle, followed by two more major campaigns during the 17^th and 19^th centuries, including restoration and remodeling of the original areas. The castle's historical significance and touristic value make conservation an important goal for the site.

This area has been the subject of limited and opportunistic (salvage) archaeological investigations, hoping to understand earlier phases of an administrative complex in the courtyard. However, the excavations did not establish a complete stratigraphy. A ground penetrating radar survey over most of the courtyard was conducted with a 500 MHz antenna, including the main courtyard area. This GPR survey of the courtyard was able to confirm some results of the archaeological excavation and located additional structures which were previously unknown. This presentation included analysis and interpretation of the data in both radargrams and depth slices. They reveal further horizons which indicate bedrock and possible reflections from structures dating to even earlier phases of the site.