Identification of the distribution of archaeological artifacts in the area of wastewater treatment installation in the city of Banda Aceh using magnetic methods.

The construction of the Banda Aceh Wastewater Treatment Plant has been delayed due to the discovery of archaeological artifacts in the construction area. In an effort to protect the existence of archaeological artifacts, a survey using the magnetic method was carried out to identify the distribution of archaeological artifacts. Total magnetic field intensity data were measured using the Proton Precession Magnetometer (PPM) equipment. The measuring area is 38 m × 40 m with 1599 measurement points and the distance between the points is 1 m. Total magnetic field anomaly values were obtained through the diurnal and International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) corrections. The maximum values of the total magnetic field anomaly are 71.0 nT and the minimum values are -99.5 nT. The maximum and minimum values are close to where the artifacts have been exposed. To obtain the distribution of anomalies, analysis signal processes were performed. The results succeeded in showing the existence of archaeological artifacts based on elongated and closed anomalies. Elongated anomalies were identified as a fence structure called diwai in Acehnese culture and the closure anomalies were identified as gravestones. The existence of these archaeological artifacts and their historical values need to be preserved so that they will be educational facilities and historical tourism objects for the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]