Satellite Remote Sensing Methods for Monitoring Archaeological Tells in the Middle East

Parcak, Sarah

doi:10.1179/009346907791071773

Cited by 88 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…A third methodology in survey practice has emerged in England and Scotland (and indeed much of temperate Europe), where topographic survey and the recording of upstanding monuments are key components of pedestrian survey, particularly for the study of pasture and upland landscapes, as well as other areas outside the plough zone. The Middle East likewise mixes methods, and has become notable for use of satellite data, including declassified archival scenes, notably CORONA, to guide prospection, particularly in Egypt, Iraq, and Turkey (Parcak 2007;Ur 2003). Archaeology in other parts of the world, such as Africa, Asia, and Australia, also often feature approaches to large-scale landscapes guided by remote sensing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Airborne LiDAR Survey to explore Historic-era archaeological landscapes of Montserrat in the Eastern Caribbean

Opitz

Ryzewski

Cherry

et al. 2015

Journal of Field Archaeology

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This article describes what appears to be the first archaeological application of airborne LiDAR survey to historic-era landscapes in the Caribbean archipelago, on the island of Montserrat. LiDAR is proving invaluable in extending the reach of traditional pedestrian survey into less favorable areas, such as those covered by dense neotropical forest and by ashfall from the past two decades of active eruptions by the Soufriè re Hills volcano, and to sites in localities that are inaccessible on account of volcanic dangers. Emphasis is placed on two aspects of the research: first, the importance of ongoing, real-time interaction between the LiDAR analyst and the archaeological team in the field; and second, the advantages of exploiting the full potential of the three-dimensional LiDAR point cloud data for purposes of the visualization of archaeological sites and features.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Airborne LiDAR Survey to explore Historic-era archaeological landscapes of Montserrat in the Eastern Caribbean

Opitz

Ryzewski

Cherry

et al. 2015

Journal of Field Archaeology

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“…CORONA high resolution space photography from the late 1960s to early 1970s is the best data for archaeologists to examine prior to major urbanization and population growth with many discoveries at and around sites emerging from these datasets [1][2][3]. While archaeologists have used satellite images since the early 1980s, this technology saw limited use in the Middle East until the late 1990s to early 2000s [4,5] Since then, archaeologists working in the MENA region have applied diverse datasets to a myriad of issues, including regional site detection [6,7] and looting [8][9][10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Open Access Satellite Data Alongside Ground Based Remote Sensing: An Assessment, with Case Studies from Egypt’s Delta

Parcak

Mumford

2017

Geosciences

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This paper will assess the most recently available open access high-resolution optical satellite data (0.3 m-0.6 m) and its detection of buried ancient features versus ground based remote sensing tools. It also discusses the importance of CORONA satellite data to evaluate landscape changes over the past 50 years surrounding sites. The study concentrates on Egypt's Nile Delta, which is threatened by rising sea and water tables and urbanization. Many ancient coastal sites will be lost in the next few decades, thus this paper emphasizes the need to map them before they disappear. It shows that high resolution satellites can sometimes provide the same general picture on ancient sites in the Egyptian Nile Delta as ground based remote sensing, with relatively sandier sedimentary and degrading tell environments, during periods of rainfall, and higher groundwater conditions. Research results also suggest potential solutions for rapid mapping of threatened Delta sites, and urge a collaborative global effort to maps them before they disappear.

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“…Other, between 1960 and 1972 with variable spatial resolution (~2-12 m) and in black and white. Other, more recent, techniques such as multispectral analysis (i.e., different combinations of spectral bands from Landsat satellite images) have been employed to explore the presence of buried remains [12][13][14]. Today, RS techniques are inexpensive, fast and reliable methods that can help to retrieve data over wide areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of Leveled Archeological Mounds (Höyük) in the Alluvial Plain of the Ceyhan River (Southern Turkey) by Satellite Remote-Sensing Analyses

et al. 2018

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Abstract:The alluvial plain of the Ceyhan River (SE Turkey) has been populated since the Neolithic. In 1954, Marjory Veronica Seton-Williams described for this area several archeological mounds (höyük), which are the remains of ancient settlements. Today, according to the archeological research carried out in the area, some of these mounds result to have been leveled by agricultural activities. In this work, we identified many color anomalies by low-cost remote-sensing analyses of satellite images. We checked the nature of these anomalies in a dedicated survey and we found a good correspondence between color anomalies and archeological remains consistent with leveled höyük. We compared the grain size and chemical characteristics of the soil collected inside the color anomalies with the soil collected in other areas of the alluvial plain. We found irrelevant differences in grain-size characteristics, but a higher content of CaCO 3 in soils collected inside the anomalies with respect to those collected outside. Therefore, the content of CaCO 3 could be considered the feature that makes the color anomalies visible. The reason for this higher content of CaCO 3 is related to the anthropogenic material used in the different phases of höyük growth. This work suggests a low-cost analysis useful for rapid identification and preservation of archeological information on the history of Mediterranean settlement.

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Satellite Remote Sensing Methods for Monitoring Archaeological Tells in the Middle East

Cited by 88 publications

References 27 publications

Using Airborne LiDAR Survey to explore Historic-era archaeological landscapes of Montserrat in the Eastern Caribbean

Using Airborne LiDAR Survey to explore Historic-era archaeological landscapes of Montserrat in the Eastern Caribbean

Using Open Access Satellite Data Alongside Ground Based Remote Sensing: An Assessment, with Case Studies from Egypt’s Delta

Identification of Leveled Archeological Mounds (Höyük) in the Alluvial Plain of the Ceyhan River (Southern Turkey) by Satellite Remote-Sensing Analyses

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