Systematic observation of the change of marks of known buried archaeological structures : case study in the plain of Philippi, Eastern Macedonia, Greece

Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.15, No.2, 2015, pages 129-142

Issue:
Pages:
129-142
Author:
Abstract:
In aerial and remote sensing archaeology the determination of the best period for the image acquisition in each study area is of major importance. This allows for a large number of marks to be indentied in the selected studied area. The first step before the collection of images (archival and/or new image acquisitions) for the studied area is the identification of the Theoretically Best Period for Marks Detection (TBPMD) of the buried archaeological structures. The second step (before the supply of new image acquisitions) is to check the reliability of TBPMD. This study proposes a documentation methodology of TBPMD that is based on the results of a systematic observation (change of intensity) of marks of known archaeological structures. An image acquisitions system (remote control balloon) was used for the pilot study. Images were acquired every month for the period of one year in archaeological positions with known buried structures (Via Egnatia in the plain of Philippi, Eastern Macedonia, Greece). Analytical meteorological-climatic data of the area was collected and studied at the same time. The results of the study are encouraging, as they allow for further reduction of TBPMD in half days.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
aerial and remote sensing archaeology, remote control balloon, systematic observation, crop and soil mark
Notes:
Corresponding author: Dimitris Kaimaris (kaimaris@auth.gr)
References (1):
  1. Agache, R. (1963) La prospection aerienne sur sols nus et l’inventaire archeoloque de laSomme, in Proceedings of the Archéologie Aérienne, Colloque International, SEVPEN,49-58.Barrett, G. (1993) Cropmark discoveries in the river barrow valley, Ireland 1989–1991. J.AARGnews 6, 21-28.Beck, A. (2007) Archaeological Site Detection: The importance of Contrast, in Proceedingsof the 2007 Annual Conference of the RSPSoc, Newcastle upon Tyne, 51-52.Betti, L. (1963) Le trace nella fotoarcheologia, in Proceedings of the Archéologie Aérienne,Colloque International, SEVPEN, 59-75.Bewley, R. H. (2003) Aerial Survey for Archaeology. The Photogrammetric Record, 104, 273-291.Brooks, R. R., Johannes, D. (1990) Phytoarchaeology, Leicester University Press, 135-138.Cavalli, M. R., Colosi, F., Palombo, A., Pignatti, S., Poscolieri, M. (2007) Remote HyperspectralImageryas a support to Archaeological Prospection,. Journal CulturalHeritage 8, 272-283.Challis, K., Kincey, M., Howard, J. A. (2009) Airborne Remote Sensing of Valley FloorGeoarchaeology using Daedalus ATM and CASI. Archaeological Prospection 16,17-33.Ciminale, M., Ricchetti, E. (1999) Non-destructive exploration in the archaeological parkof Metaponto (Southern Italy). J. Archaeol. Prospect. 6, 75-84.Ciminale, M., Gallo, D., Lasaponara, R., Masini, N. (2009) A Multiscale Approach for ReconstructingArchaeological Landscapes: Applicationsin Northern Apulia (Italy).Archaeological Prospection 16, 143-153.De Laet, V., Paulissen, E., Waelkens, M. (2007) Methods for the extraction of archaeologicalfeaturesfrom very high-resolution IKONOS-2 remote sensing imagery, Hisar(southwest Turkey). Journal of Archaeological Science 34, 830-841.Fagan, B. (1959) Cropmarks in antiquity. Antiquity 33, 279-281.Featherstone, R., Horne, P., Macleod, D., Bewley, R. (1999) Aerial Reconnaissance overEngland in Summer 1996, J. Archaeol. Prospect. 6, 47-62.Georgoula, O., Kaimaris, D., Tsakiri, M., Patias, P. (2004) From the aerial photo to highresolution satellite image. Tools for the archaeological research, in Proceedings of International Archives of XXth ISPRS Congress, Geo-Imagery Bridging Continents, Istanbul,Turkey, Vol.XXXV part B7, ISSN 1682-1750, 1055-1060.Hanson, W. S., Olten, A. I. (2003) The identification of roman buildings from the air: recentdiscoveries in Western Transylvania. J. Archaeol. Prospect. 10, 101-117.HNMS (2014) Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), The Climate of Greece,http://www.hnms.gr/hnms/english/climatology/climatology_region_diagrams_html?dr_city=Kavala_Chryssoupoli.Jones, R. J. A., Evans, R. (1975) Soil and crop marks in the recognition of archaeologicalsites by air photography. Aerial Reconnaissance for Archaeology 12, 1-11.Kaimaris, D. (2006) Photogrammetric processing of digital images in the service of archaeologicalresearch: the localization of Via Egnatia from Amphipolis to Philippi, Ph.D. thesis, AristotleUniversity of Thessaloniki, Greece.Kaimaris, D., Georgoula, O., Karadedos, G. (2008) The locating of an Unknown ArchaeologicalSite in the Valley of Philippi, Eastern Macedonia, Greece with the use ofaerial photographs, satellite images and GIS, in Proceedings of the 36th AnnualComputer applications and quantitative methods in archaeology, Budapest, 42-50.Kaimaris, D., Geogoula, O., Karadedos, G., Patias, P. (2009) Aerial and Remote sensingArchaeology in eastern Macedonia, Greece, in Proceedings of the CIPA XXII Symposium,Kyoto, Japan, CIPA Archives for Documentation of Cultural Heritage, Vol.XXII-2009, CD.Kaimaris, D., Patias, P., Tsakiri, M. (2012) Best period for high spatial resolution satelliteimages for the detection of marks of buried structures. The Egyptian Journal ofRemote Sensing and Space Sciences 15, 9-18.Karadedos, G., Nikolaidou-Patera, M. (2006) Seeking the Via Egnatia in the plain of Philippi,in Proceedings of the 20th Symposium Archaeological Work in Macedonia andThrace, Thessaloniki, Greece, 139-148.Lasaponara, R., Masini, N. (2007) Detection of archaeological crop marks by using satelliteQuickBird multispectral imagery. J. Archaeol. Sci., 214–221.Scollar, I. (1963) Physical conditions tending to produce crop sites in the Rhinelad, in Proceedingsof the Archéologie Aérienne, Colloque International, SEVPEN, 39-47.Trier, O. D., Larsen, S. O., Solberg, R. (2009) Automatic Detection of Circular StructuresinHigh-resolution Satellite Images of Agricultural Land. Archaeological Prospection16, 1-15.Verhoeven, G., Doneus, M. (2011) Balancing on the Borderline - a Low - cost Approach toVisualize the Red-edge Shift for the Benefit of Aerial Archaeology. ArchaeologicalProspection 18, 267-278.Wilson, D. R. (1982) Air Photo Interpretation for Archaeologists, Batsford, London, 50-55.Yang, X. (2007) Integrated use of remote sensing and geographic information systems inriparian vegetation delineation and mapping. International Journal of Remote Sensing28, 353-370.