Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Investigation of Queen Sheba (Bilikisu Sungbo) Possible Burial Site in Oke-Eri, Ijebu-Ode, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The near subsurface imaging strength of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) which can delineate regions of contrasting dielectric properties has been explored in this study to identify the contentious burial tomb of the biblical Queen Sheba (Bilikisu Sungbo) located in the Oke-eri area of Ijebu province in southwestern, Nigeria. The site is highly revered as sacred by Christians, Muslims and Traditional worshippers and claimed by the Ijebus as heroin who came back from King Solomon’s voyage to build a fortified city. The filtered and processed GPR data acquired using a 400 MHz antenna GSSI SIR-3000 for GPR system via twenty-three (23) established profiles, surveyed at 2 m inter-profile separation, presented varying amplitude GPR reflection which characterize the entire study area at different depths as observed from the various iso-depth slices extracted from the combined GPR radargrams. Unique and consistent high amplitude GPR reflection patterns and classic hyperbolic diffraction curves dominate part of the burial site cordoned off and claimed by the local as the grave of the queen. The reflection pattern beneath the grave is observed to be consistent in amplitude, size, shape and exist right from 0.91 m to 1.83 m depth beneath the surface. The unique reflection signatures beneath the burial site suggest occurrence of materials which differ considerably in dielectric properties from that of the surrounding geologic rocks which could be tomb walls, void or simply non-geologic / anthropogenic materials consistent with burial activities.