GPR Workshops

The workshop is now completed for 2024-25.  It was great, and the participants worked hard, learned much, and we all learned from each other.  I will soon post information about all those who completed the workshop sucessfully.

Here are the reviews of the 2024-25 workshop. 

I am thinking about doing this workshop again next winter.  Please write me if you are interested, after you have reviewed the format and topics that are recorded below.

Videos of the 2024-25 Workshop:

March 28, 2025:  King Richard III burial

 

 

 

March 21, 2025:  Water Newton: Roman site

 

 

 

March 14, 2025: Cave void space

 

 

 

March 7, 2025: Hollister Site: GPR and magnetics integrated

 

 

 

March 3, 2025: Extracting magnetic values that correspond to GPR

 

 

 

Feb. 28, 2025:  Laetoli prints

Feb. 21, 2025: Hohokam canals #1

Feb. 21, 2025: Hohokam canals #2

 

 

 

Feb. 14, 2025: 3-D from Horizon picking: Late Ice Age Portugal

 

 

 

Feb. 10, 2025: Horizon picking and 3-D image production

 

 

 

Feb. 7, 2025:  Beach deposit with many features on bedrock 

 

 

 

Jan. 31, 2025: Graves

 

 

 

Jan. 29, 2025: Short video of using DOS for GPR processing

Jan. 24, 2025: Migration: Chios, Greece 
Jan. 21, 2025: Radan to Surfer; AI migration with Larry
Jan. 17, 2025: Frequency filtering at Baudes
Jan. 14, 2025: Short video on DOS frequency filtering 
January 10, 2025: Poverty Point: Baslc slicing and profile analysis 
Dec. 13, 2024: Resolution of objects and layers
small group session Dec. 9, 2024
Dec. 6, 2024: my take on GPR
Nov. 14, 2024:The basics of slicing
Nov. 7, 2024: introduction to GPR Viewer
Here is my video to all of you on what I will expect prior to that first session together:
Oct 27, 2024  
Those who have completed this Advanced GPR Interpretation Workshop will be accredited and their geographic location and contact information will be posted here:
United States
Europe
The rest of the world
list of accredited advanced GPR interpreters

Some comments from previous workshop participants
Here are the videos of workshops from 2020-2022: 
The 2021-2022 Advanced GPR Interpretation Workshop.  Many thanks to GSSI and California State University Sonoma (as well as other sponsors) for making this workshop happen.
This year Lauren Couey (GSSI) was my co-workshop organizer and Radan specialist. 
Here are the recordings to the workshop sessions:
Background sessions:
  • Dec. 7, 2021:  basics on what to do first with GPR data when returning to the field:  Time zero, basic processing, reflections, how to describe reflections, and how to determine velocity from hyperbola fitting.
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/t/1_tv7g1tff
  • Dec 15, 2021 :  Short session on GPR Viewer with more work on velocity, topographic adjustments, how to produce images from profiles, how to annotate those images for reports.  Also Surfer basics on gridding, image making and annotations of maps
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/Dec.%2015%2C%202020%3A%20Short%20session%20on%20GPR%20Viewer%20and%20Surfer/1_ztyjud89
  • Dec 17, 2021: Basics on amplitude slicing.  How to determine slice thicknesses, and what resolution is in various frequencies.  How to determine what a map is showing, and how to adjust maps for various amplitudes.  Also basics on comparing profiles to maps, and how to make those in both Surfer and Radan:
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/Amplitude+slicing/1_1zqxorop
The General Sesssions: 
  • Jan 7, 2022 First day of workshop…introductions and where we are going with Larry ideas. Introduction to the Ecuador Inca Temple dataset.
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/Jan%207%2C%202022%20First%20day%20of%20workshop%E2%80%A6introductions%20and%20where%20we%20are%20going%20with%20Larry%20ideas.%20/1_bmdxuopy
  • Jan 14, 2022:  Ecuador grid and introduction to frequency filtering.
 
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/Jan%2014%2C%202022%3A%20%20Ecuador%20grid%20and%20introduction%20to%20frequency%20filtering/1_qk40pjsl
  • Jan 21, 2022:  Baudes, France and introduction to Tanuri site (frequency filtering for Roman villa and Medieval church).
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/Date%3A%20Jan%2021%2C%202022%20Baudes%2C%20France%20%20and%20introduction%20to%20Tanuri%20site%20in%20Arizona/1_ltwxf9of
 
 
 
 
Jan 28, 2022: Tanuri, Arizona:  a 900 MHz data set in both x and y of a “pre-Classic” Hohokam house.
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/t/1_f8u6f5rm
 
 
 
 
 
Here is a video of the pit house
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FYa4dNruJ7nuu7JkrHWWqcq9n0Q971f-/view?usp=sharing
  • Feb. 4, 2022: Late Pleistocene Portugal:  mapping fluvial channels in the context of a Late Ice Age hunting site.
Below is the recording of special session on picking the bedrock horizon, and then producing 3-D images of that buried surface, which is a map of the ancient landscape at the end of the Ice Age:
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/t/1_9y0afwp7
This is the full session where everyone shows their results.  Very interesting mix of methods from many participants. Also an introduction to next week, which is a merger of GPR and magnetics:
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/Portugal%203-D%20surface/1_85zzaf02
  • Feb 11, 2022: Connecticut USA:  a 17th century farming community that was covered in flood sand about 1705.  Integration of GPR analysis and magnetics.
Below is the short session on merging magnetics and GPR (the “Larry” method of comparing magnetic readings to GPR profiles and amplitude maps, which is very “non traditional”):
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/Special%20session%20on%20merging%20magnetic%20readings%20and%20GPR%20profiles%20and%20maps/1_x3dn7gse
Here is our group analysis of features from Hollister, with many different data processing and interpretation methods.  With an introduction by Dave Leslie on the recent excavations from the site, which provide an important template forthe interpretations
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/Hollister%20site%20merging%20GPR%20and%20magnetics/1_1ut2gwxa
  • Feb 18, 2022: Laetoli footprints:  famous Tanzania hominid site with a 2.6 GHZ antenna for very high resolution
a short session on how to process and interpret the prints:
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/Footprints%20some%20basic%20GPR%20thoughts/1_cv9aysnu
Our joint interpretation of the prints, with many different methods (some good, some not so great…but good tries!) that we used:
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20220218-160005_Recording_gallery_3200x1700.mp4/1_874ysok4
  • Feb. 25, 2022: Cueva Peluda Spain:  Neanderthal cave where the ceiling and floor both must be mapped, and the volume of the void space determined.
Some background on methods to pick horizons, convert time to depth and then produce 3-D volumes and images of the cave:
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/cave%20velocity%20analyses%20and%203-D%20volumes/1_frtwbb3m
Our joint interpretation today of the cave with estimates of the volume.  Also an introduction to the Rillito Fan project for next week
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/cave%20analysis%20of%20floor%20and%20ceiling%2C%20and%20introduction%20to%20Rillito%20Fan/1_t9pa2ewu
  •  
  • Mar 4, 2022: Rillito Fan, Arizona:  an irrigation system associated with an “Early Agricultural” village on the banks of the Santa Cruz River near Tucson.
short session on placing the canal into space and producing 3-D images
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/canal%20picks%20and%203-D%20images/1_7r43lv5z
 
 
 
 
 
The analysis of the canal, and introduction to the mystery grid
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/canal%20analysis%20and%20introduction%20to%20mystery%20grid/1_rsjzj11i
  • Mar 11, 2022: The mystery grid. A nice GPR and magnetic grid from a spot in southern England.  The final exam!
Results of the mystery grid analyses
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/final%20workshop%20day%20with%20results%20of%20the%20mystery%20grid/1_02aeo483
Here are the participants of the 2022 Workshop. 
Andrew Heller
SEARCH Inc.
Claiborne Sea
U of Alabama
David Cranford
Assistant State Archaeologist, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
David Givens
Director of Arcaheology, Jamestown Rediscovery
David Leslie
Archaeological and Historical Services Inc.
Ethan Ryan
Project Manager, Cannon Heritage
Gano Perez
GIS Cultural Specialist, Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Iraida Rodriguez
NPS Southern Arizona Office
Jean-Christophe Ouellet
Dept. of Anthropology, University of Montreal
Jennie Sturm
Statistical Research, Inc & University of New Mexico
Jeremy Pye
PI, Cultural Resources Analysts, Inc.
Jonathan Alperstein
Dartmouth College
Kevin Nolan
Ball State University
Mary Beth Fitts
Assistant State Archaeologist, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Molly Cannon
Director Mountain West Center, Utah State University
Robert Chartrand
Chartrand Geoarchaeological Solutions, LLC
Scott W. Hammerstedt
Oklahoma Archaeological Survey; U. of Oklahoma
Seth Van Dam
Gray & Pape Heritage Management
Sheldon Skaggs
Bronx Community College City University New York
William Chadwick
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Bryan Mischke
Cal State Sonoma, California
Michael Konzak
Cal State Sonoma, California
Maria Iancu
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.
Zafeiria Roumelioti
University of Patras, Greece
Evrim Tütünsatar
Isparta Uygulamalı Bilimler Üniversitesi, Turkey
Thomas Fenn
U of Oklahoma
Sean Farrell
SEARCH Inc.
Christopher Peske
Sonoma State University
Dana Kollmann
Townson University
Samantha Kirkley
Southern Utah University
Peter Masters
Cranfield University, UK
Katherine Beames
U. of Alberta
Francisco Peralta Belmonte
Asunción, Paraguay
Below are all the recorded sessions for each week of the workshop from 2021:
March 12:  Caves and cave fill.
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20210312-155832_Lawrence-C_1920x1200/1_aba3kda9
March 5, 2021:  Arne Andersen Stamnes:  The Norwegian stepped frequency system, and introduction to caves.
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20210305-160218_Sala-riuni_1920x1080/1_46oaneq9
Feb. 26, 2021: Graves and gridding complexities.  With Peter Leach from GSSI
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/Graves+and+gridding+complexities+2.26.21+Speaker/1_fesuo1ay
Feb. 19, 2021:  Footprints/Mystery 1619 grid
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20210219-160117_Sala-riuni_1920x1080/1_qov2mxr7
Feb. 12, 2021:  Immo Trinks:  The Austrian multi-channel method
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20210212-160404_Pers–nlic_1920x1200/1_kxysro6g
February 5, 2021:  Coopers Ferry 3-D:P how to horizon pick and make 3-D surfaces
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20210205-160201_Lawrence-C_1920x1200/1_f88oiwj5
February 3, 2021:  Special session on 3-D profile analysis
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20201217-215715_Lawrence-C_1344x728/1_ajl9tj60
Jan. 29, 2021:  Baudes, France and the application of data filtering and migration:
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20210129-161447_Lawrence-C_3840x2060/1_jbyktsgl
Jan. 28, 2021:  Special session on profile analysis
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20201214-220510_Lawrence-C_1344x728/1_z3zgyp1h
Jan 22, 2021.  Tanuri 2:  Analysis of a Hohokam site in southern Arizona
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20210122-155923_Lawrence-C_3528x1200/1_fcy0prct
Jan 18, 2021: migration and filtering and basic slicing
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20210118-195948_Lawrence-C_1600x768/1_z26j0mgo
Jan. 15, 2021: Tanuri 1: our start on studying a Hohokam site in southern Arizona:  basic profile analysis and migration
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20210115-155752_Lawrence-C_1920x1080/1_sq8au4i1
Dec. 17, 2020: pre-workshop basic amplitude slicing and profile analysis
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20201217-215715_Lawrence-C_1344x728/1_ajl9tj60
Dec. 14, 2020: pre-workshop basic GPR
https://mediaspace.du.edu/media/GMT20201214-220510_Lawrence-C_1344x728/1_z3zgyp1h
Here are this winter’s participants who made it to the end.
Adam S. Wiewel, Midwest Archeological Center; National Park Service Lincoln, Nebraska
Sam Roberts Met Geo Environmental Ltd and Met Engineers Ltd Leeds, UK
Nikos Papadopoulos Lab of Geophysical-Remote Sensing Rethymnon, Crete, Greece
Rory Becker Eastern Oregon University La Grande, Oregon USA
Kris Lockyear University College London, UK
Adolfo Martinez Monterrey, Mexico
Mohammed Mohsensali Bagdad, Iraq
Emma St. Pierre Virtus Heritage Dunedin, New Zealand
Luca Piroddi Università degli Studi di Cagliari Dipartimento Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale e Architettura Cagliari, Italy
Arne Anderson Stamnes Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim, Norway
Rok Plesnicar Wessex Archaeology Old Sarum Park, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 6EB
Robert Ryndziewicz University of Warsaw, Poland
Peter Masters
Cranfield Forensic Institute Cranfield University, UK
Jim Glenister John Moores University Liverpool, UK
Richie Villis Archaeological Services Durham University
Kristoffer Dahle Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim, Norway
Kendra L. Maroney Kalispell Tribe, Washington, USA
İnci Nurgül Özdoğru Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul/Turkey
Mark R. Schurr University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA
Heather Gimson
Earthsound Geophysics Drumagh, Claremorris, Ireland
Elle Lillis Virtus Heritage, Pottsville, Australia
Huthaifa Qawasmeh Amman, Jordan
Adrian Serbanescu Bucharest, Romania
Katherine Gadd University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
and a few comments after it was all over:
• I learnt a great deal in this workshop. These last three months have been amazing. Many, many thanks to Larry for spending so much time doing this. I enjoyed being a grad student again! • I also want to express my enormous gratitude to Larry. This workshop changed (improved) my life, not only professionally but also personally, in a very surprising way that I had never imagined before. In these 3 months I was always looking forward to Friday to have these meetings. Now, making a compilation of what has happened, I realize that many times we feel in a separate world but that in reality there are many people like us and finally someone (Larry) had the courage to meet us.
• In this last zoom meeting, we laughed a lot more than at any meeting before. Maybe because we are sad and trying to hide our feelings. I do not have words to describe my feelings now. Larry, thank you for any minute you spent teaching us GPR. Today, I am a new person who can understand how GPR works. My view on the interpretation of GPR reflections is developed. all that because of you. And the most important thing that I get from this workshop is all of you. I meet new wonderful peoples and worked with them for three months. Thanks Larry to give me this opportunity to participant in this workshop.
• Thank you for organizing this. It has been wonderfully instructive, and I have learnt more than I ever imagined there was to learn. It has also been great to finally feel like I am part of a GPR community after floundering around on my own. I appreciate this group on many levels!
• I’m very proud, happy and grateful for all that I learned and not only on my own toolbox but all the GPR-related concepts (on both which I feel now more self-confident and interested to go deeper): It has been a fantastic didactic experience of learning by doing which I hadn’t done since my earlier studies in architectural engineering and not in all my PhD and postdoc experiences in geophysics.
• Especially our last session was really amazing and shocking if compared from where we started, especially the part of the sedimentary filling of the cave… showing how reality can be far from standard interpretations, sometimes (otherwise they shouldn’t be standard or common!).
• It’s been a real pleasure, and I have gotten a much better grasp on how to use GPR for archaeological analysis, which in turn will lead to getting better at interpretation. I am very impressed by the results, application and analyses presented by all the participants. Well done everyone!
• I have very much enjoyed this workshop every Friday. It has given us food for thought over the winter months. I have learnt a great deal from the ‘Master’. I have learnt new ways to analyse and interpret the data using other software than I knew.
• Today is our last day and I will miss our interactions on looking at the homework you have provided us with. This has been challenging but has reaped its rewards as well by understanding how to achieve the results and looking at the data in new ways.
• Linking up with everyone around the world has been great and I hope we continue to keep in touch with each other. Beyond GPR Workshop ‘Larry Style’, this will be great to continue with others who wish to join our get together every couple of weeks or once a month and hopefully Larry will be able to join us.
• Larry, this course has been a revelation. I’ve gone from being a guy who used some basic filters because I read about them somewhere to make slice maps that I looked at for possible archaeological patterns. Then I became someone who looks at individual profiles, has a vocabulary to describe them, can understand how actual features in the ground might be producing the profiles, filtering based on what actually needs to be clarified (less might be better when you understand what you are seeing), and producing slice maps that I can relate to expected features and not just patterns of unknown origin. And now, this week, I am a guy who can look at an individual trace and see useful stuff like phase changes and know what they mean.
• Thanks to Larry for giving up his time and organizing this venture. It has been a pleasure to participate and to be pushed to explore data in different ways and from different settings. The course has been invaluable, and I have a better understanding of GPR processing and therefore interpretation and I already implementing the knowledge in recent surveys. Experiencing different programs and what they produce has also been very interesting, while getting a full knowledge of Larry’s program has been fantastic.
• Thank you, Larry, for letting me join in this workshop, I’m the only one who doesn’t have any background in archeology or geology, but I learned so many things from you and the others. When we started this workshop, I thought it would take a long time to finish, but unfortunately today it’s finished like “speed of light”.
• Thank you, Larry, you’ve done an incredible service to all of us in making this workshop available. Thank you for your time and efforts, you’ve provided many different types of datasets for us to explore and talk about GPR. You gave me an appreciation for all aspects of GPR, different perspectives that I hadn’t considered, and knowledge and confidence to approach the data in a more open/less frigid way. I learned an immense amount, and really enjoyed the different datasets, listening to others, and the process itself.