<title>Application of remote sensing in archaeology: a study of crop mark detection using airborne thermal infrared imagery in the Heslerton Parish Project area, Vale of Pickering, North Yorks, UK</title>

Abstract

This paper describes the application of airborne remote sensing techniques for the detection of sub-surface archaeology in the Heslerton Parish Project area, Vale of Pickering, North Yorkshire, NERC vertical-color-air photographs and Airborne Thematic Mapper multispectral digital data have been evaluated for the detection of crop marks under different land use and soil moisture conditions. The value of thermal infrared imagery over visible imagery in relation to these variables is discussed. Thermal imagery represents the emitted, rather than the reflected radiation from the target. This technique therefore exploits variations in surface characteristics which may not be evident on visible imagery produced using reflected energy. The results suggest that thermal infrared imagery may be useful for the detection of crop marks in situations where traditional data (air photographs) give poor returns, for example over potatoes.