Integrated results of aerial image, ground magnetics and excavation for settlement assessment at Dadan site, Al‐’Ula area, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

AbstractExploring how ancient people created and inhabited specific sites remains a mysterious challenge for archaeologists. The Al‐Khuribah site is one of the most crucial archaeological places in the north‐western part of Saudi Arabia, and its existence is dated from the eighth to the first century bc. The area is characterized by various archaeological remains that engender debate on the interpretation of those remains among the archaeological community. Aerial images, ground magnetic surveys, and excavation results have been integrated in the proposed area for current and future excavation planning. A Google Earth aerial image for the study site revealed that surface pattern characteristics of the site are in the form of remains of adjacent houses with relatively small rooms. Despite composition similarities between the archaeological remains and host sediments, the integrated results of the analysed aerial image and magnetic gradient results showed significant archaeological features that cannot be traced using one method. To complete the interpretation of an archaeological character at a site, the results of the analysed aerial image and magnetic gradient have been evaluated through successive excavation. Overall, the results evidently support the hypothesis regarding the type of occupation of people living close to the religious temple that was excavated in the area earlier. To support such a hypothesis, the archaeological remains, which include various sized kilns, numerous linear wall features, and some of the daily used objects, must be analysed.