Resource Guide: Remote Sensing and Data Visualisation in Archaeology
1. Ebert,J.I.(1984). Remote Sensing Applications in Archaeology. Advances in Archaeological Method and Theory, 7, 293–362. Wiseman, J., & El-Baz, F. (Eds.). (2007). Remote Sensing in Archaeology. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-44455-6
The first is a 1984 book written by Ebert about the use of remote sensing in archaeology. Subsequently, as a result of technological development, numerous new approaches forunderstanding archaeological sites emerged, and the field of landscape archaeology was
established; Wiseman’s 2007 paper discusses all of these developments. The collection of data about a subject or location using various imaging techniques is referred to as remote sensing. This allows the data to be gathered without the researcher actually being present. Archaeological sites and features can be located, mapped, and analysed using remote sensing, an invaluable archaeological tool. In the field of archaeology, remote sensing can be accomplished using a variety of methods, including the following:
The term “aerial photography” refers to the process of shooting images of a location using an aircraft or a drone. The creation of precise maps of an archaeological site or feature can be accomplished through the use of aerial photography.
Satellite Imagery – Creating high-resolution photographs of the surface of the Earth can be accomplished with the help of satellite imagery. Satellite imaging is used by archaeologists not just to find and record ancient sites and features but also to investigate how the terrain has changed over the course of time.
Light Detection and Ranging, sometimes known as LiDAR, is a technology that creates 3D models of the Earth’s surface using lasers. LiDAR is frequently utilised in the field of archaeology to make discoveries of objects that are hidden from view at the surface, such as
buried structures or ancient highways.
Ground-penetrating Radar, often known as GPR, is a method that creates photographs of subsurface structures by employing radar pulses in the scanning process. Archaeologists can discover buried structures and artefacts using ground penetrating radar (GPR), which eliminates the need for excavation.
Researchers in archaeology can explore ancient sites and features using remote sensing without disrupting the sites in any way. In addition, it can reveal vital information about the surrounding geography and the ways in which ancient people interacted with their surroundings.(Ebert, 1984; Wiseman & El-Baz, 2007)
2-QGIS Tutorial for Archaeologists.
This video tutorial has been designed by Paul Driscoll for archaeology students studying at the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Bristol. It describes the usage of QGIS (Quantum GIS), a free and open-source Geographic Information System software that can be used for a wide range of mapping and analysis applications, including in archaeology. This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions on how to use QGIS for archaeological mapping and analysis. QGIS maps archaeological sites and characteristics. Archaeologists can use QGIS to import and analyse satellite imagery, aerial photos, and LiDAR data to build precise maps of archaeological sites and features. These maps can reveal site trends and locate regions for additional excavation or study. Archaeology can utilise QGIS for spatial analysis. Archaeologists can use QGIS to study item or feature distribution inside a site or between sites. This can reveal ancient people’s environmental, social, and economic interactions. QGIS also visualises archaeological data. QGIS lets archaeologists generate 3D models of sites and features for virtual exploration and analysis. For complex or multi-layered sites, this can be handy. QGIS is powerful for archaeological mapping and analysis. Its flexibility and wide range of uses make it worthwhile for archaeologists to study site spatial linkages or analysing archaeological data in novel ways. This tutorial will focus on loading raster data and constructing reference points in order to produce a map that can be used to visualise the entire landscape and generate elevation models.
URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y6UN3JEXVw&ab_channel=PaulDriscoll
3. Gupta, E., & Rajani, M. B. (2020). Historical coastal maps: Importance and challenges in their use in studying coastal geomorphology. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-020-00739-7
This article discusses the untapped potential of historical maritime maps and charts and how such maps and charts could be used to understand coastal geomorphology. Charts for navigation, maps showing birds’-eye views, and plan maps all help to retain historical knowledge of coasts. It has been discovered that such writings contain a significant number of large and medium-sized charts and maps that date back to the sixteenth century CE. Analyzing historical maritime maps and understanding how coastlines have changed through time has been made possible with the help of geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing methods. These maps contain essential information regarding artificial buildings and geomorphic features such as spits, bars, shoals, and deltas, which can provide insights into how the coast has changed since the maps were developed. This information can be used to provide insights into how the maps were created. Researchers can better understand the changes in coastal geomorphology that have occurred throughout the interim period if they analyse these maps utilising historical text, remote sensing imagery, and more current studies. However, interpreting these maps is not without its difficulties, including size variability, date of publishing vs survey, and originality of map content. In spite of these barriers, there remains a tremendous unrealised potential in ancient maritime maps and charts to comprehend coastal geomorphology. Researchers can overcome
these challenges by carefully analysing and interpreting the data.
4. HEC RAS Tutorial
HECRAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System) is a software tool that is commonly used for the hydraulic modelling and simulation of river systems. It is widely used in river engineering and hydrology fields to analyze river morphology and predict changes
to river systems under different scenarios.
The tutorial begins with an overview of the HECRAS interface and then guides viewers through the process of setting up a new project and inputting data, including cross-sections and boundary conditions. The video also covers running the analysis, reviewing and interpreting the results, and exporting the data to other software programs.
In river archaeology, HECRAS can be used to understand how changes in river morphology over time may have affected past human settlement patterns and land use practices. By using HECRAS to model changes to river systems, researchers can gain insights into how past human societies may have interacted with and adapted to changes in their environment. For example, HECRAS can be used to model the effects of changes in river channel patterns, such as meandering or braided channels, on the location of archaeological sites or the distribution of artefacts along the river banks. It can also be used to predict the impact of riverine hazards, such as floods or erosion, on archaeological sites and cultural landscapes. HECRAS is a powerful tool for studying river morphology in river archaeology. By using this software to model and analyze changes in river systems over time, researchers can gain a better understanding of how past human societies may have adapted to changes in their environment and can identify potential archaeological sites or areas for further investigation. (Sharma, 2015)
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhOCmncetX4&ab_channel=IsaacWait
References
Ebert, J. I. (1984). Remote Sensing Applications in Archaeology. Advances in Archaeological Method and Theory, 7, 293–362.
Gupta, E., & Rajani, M. B. (2020). Historical coastal maps: Importance and challenges in their use in studying coastal geomorphology. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-020-00739-7
Isaac Wait (Director). (2014, March 14). HEC RAS Tutorial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhOCmncetX4
Paul Driscoll (Director). (2013, January 1). QGIS Tutorial for Archaeologist.avi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y6UN3JEXVw
Sharma, S. (2015). HEC-GeoRAS and HEC-RAS Modeling. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.2805.8329
Wiseman, J., & El-Baz, F. (Eds.). (2007). Remote Sensing in Archaeology. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-44455-6
