The Use of Remote Sensing, Geophysical Methods and Soil Analysis in the Study of Sites Disturbed by Agricultural Activity

Abstract

This study is based on an interdisciplinary approach to the prospection of archaeological sites impacted by modern agricultural plowing activity. We applied remote sensing, combined with geophysical, geochemical, and archaeological methods at Kushmanskoye III — a medieval Finno-Ugric site in the Cheptsa River basin, northern Udmurtia (9th–13th centuries AD). As a result of many years of plowing, the site cannot be visually demarcated, and visual traces of its extent have been obliterated. Scientifi c methods included aerial photography from unmanned vehicles (visual range, thermal, and multispectral imaging), geophysical techniques (resistivity and magnetometry surveys, ground penetrating radar, and electrical resistivity tomography), and soil studies (grain size composition, micromorphology, and chemical and biological analyses of soil cores). As a result, we effectively traced the boundaries of the site and of its “household periphery”, delineating areas with various degrees of disruption. Our research identifi ed two lines of defensive constructions, previously invisible on the surface. Our fi ndings have enabled us to initiate revision of the site’s status in the register of state-protected archaeological resources. The location of geophysical anomalies, caused by buried features, reveals a regularized row layout to the site. The results are supported by those of archaeological surveys.

A reconstruction of the occupation layer of archaeological sites according to a statistical analysis of multispectral imaging

“…In addition, an assessment of the saturation of the occupation layer with organic materials was carried out based on the contents of phosphates, organic carbon F I G U R E 1 Location of the studied area in Udmurt Republic and Kushman archaeological cluster (right-hand map) and magnetic susceptibility in the soil materials of the cores. In the second stage of interdisciplinary studies (Zhurbin et al, 2019), the presence of another external line of fortifications, which also has no relief features, was proven, and a reconstruction of the layout of the inner and outer parts of the settlement was proposed. An analysis of the relative position of geophysical anomalies showed that the buildings were aligned in parallel rows in the inner part of the settlement.…”

“…In addition, synchronous changes in the magnetic susceptibility, phosphate content and active microbial biomass in soil samples indicate anthropogenic transformation of soils far beyond the defensive structures (Zhurbin et al, 2019). Thus, archaeological, geophysical and soil studies have revealed areas with different thicknesses of the occupation layer.…”