Identifying coastal archaeology using multi-spectral satellite imagery of the intertidal zone

his English Heritage funded project explored the use of multispectral satellite imagery for archaeological investigations in the intertidal zone. As a pilot project, the study focused on the well documented Portsmouth and Langstone Harbours. The aim of the study was to examine the potential of multispectral surveying techniques in the monitoring and management of intertidal cultural heritage. The rationale for the successful use of multispectral imagery in the identification of sub-surface archaeology is based on previous studies of terrestrial archaeology in Scandinavia (e.g. Grøn et al., 2011), where expert interpretation of QuickBird and Ikonos imagery was capable of identifying features as small as cooking pits and post holes within agricultural landscapes. To date, there has been limited investigation of intertidal archaeology using satellite imagery, and hence this study provides a first look - pilot study - evaluation of the potential of this new approach.

该由英国历史遗产基金资助的项目探讨了在潮间带地区使用多光谱卫星影像进行考古调查的方法。作为一项试点研究，该项目专注于记录详尽的朴次茅斯港和兰斯顿港。研究的目的是检验多光谱调查技术在潮间带文化遗产监控与管理中的应用潜力。多光谱影像在识别地下考古遗迹方面的成功应用，基于对斯堪的纳维亚半岛陆地考古（例如Grøn等，2011年）的先前研究，其中专家对QuickBird和Ikonos影像的解读能够识别出农业景观中如烹饪坑和木桩孔等微小特征。截至目前，利用卫星影像对潮间带考古学的研究尚显不足，因此本研究提供了一个对该新方法潜力的首次探索——试点研究——评估。