Direct Detection of Archaeological Sites Using Remote Sensing

摘要

The research described here was conducted in response to Broad Agency Announcement 98-003 for FY 1999 Strategic Environmental Research and Development program (SERDP). Specifically, it partially addresses Statement of Need (SON) Number CSSON-99-01 , 'Cultural Resources Management Detection and Evaluation Technologies.' The objective of this statement of need is to improve the identification and assessment of prehistoric, historic, and traditional cultural properties for sites on Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE) lands. The SON also identifies other needs, including more efficient information management technologies, and sharing of tools, data, and other resources with appropriate users. This study is designed to partially address that need by examining whether certain kinds of archaeological materials may be detected remotely. The central purpose of this study is to evaluate the spectral detectability of selected types of prehistoric artifacts common at archaeological sites of the Southwestern United States using remote sensing. The ground surface at any given archaeological site or other location is composed of a number of natural and man-made materials, including soil, rock, vegetation, and artifacts. A spectrum collected by a sensor is a combination of the individual spectra of these materials such that, as the percent composition of a material on the surface increases, its spectral representation in the mixed spectrum increases. Even if a material has its own unique spectrum, it's representation in the mixed spectrum may be very subtle, unless it comprises a significant portion of the surface.