A malarial-ridden swamp: using Google Earth Pro and Corona to access the southern Balikh valley, Syria

This manuscript explores the benefit of satellite survey for archaeological landscapes where traditional cartographic and digital datasets are scarce, and ground reconnaissance is not possible due to modern vegetation overburden and/or geo-politics. The methods presented demonstrate a cost effective...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of archaeological science 2013-04, Vol.40 (4), p.1975-1987
Main Author: Hritz, Carrie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ancient civilizations of the near east
Art and archaeology
Balikh River valley
Field technics
Generalities
GIS
Mesopotamia and Near East
Methods
Relict rivers
Remote sensing
Research principies
Satellite survey
Settlement patterns
Survey
Syria
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Summary:This manuscript explores the benefit of satellite survey for archaeological landscapes where traditional cartographic and digital datasets are scarce, and ground reconnaissance is not possible due to modern vegetation overburden and/or geo-politics. The methods presented demonstrate a cost effective and integrative protocol for remote survey in an alluvial landscape. Using satellite survey methods merging data from different time periods, seasons and sensors, it was possible to recognize archaeological sites, reconstruct floodplain evolution, and present a provisional picture of the settlement landscape in the unsurveyed southern Balikh valley, Syria. ► I demonstrate the value of multi-temporal satellite images in accessible areas. ► A case study of the southern half of the Balikh River valley, Syria is presented. ► I describe methods for the cost-effective integration and interpretation of diverse datasets. ► Use of these datasets enabled archaeological site detection analysis of the fluvial geomorphology. ► The results are provisional reconstruction of the settlement landscape.
ISSN:0305-4403
1095-9238
DOI:10.1016/j.jas.2012.11.017