Surveying along the Slopes: Evaluating the Impact of Geomorphic Processes on Field Survey’s Site Discovery Effectiveness

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper deals with the effectiveness of archaeological field survey under different geomorphic and topographic conditions. In particular, it addresses the informativeness of survey-recovered topsoil artifacts for discovering sites. To this end, the study uses the theoretical framework of five slope elements and soil thickness models and the data from a large development project, the Slovenian motorways, focusing on 24 case studies from backslope, footslope, and toeslope positions. Data on slope classification, soil classification, soil thickness, survey, and excavation results are used to determine the relationship between topsoil artifacts and the subsurface archaeological record at each site. The results show that topsoil artifacts on backslope, footslope, and toeslope positions are mainly transported and hold little value for site discovery. Sites on footslopes, toeslopes, and partly backslopes are mainly buried and undetectable by survey, which calls for other site discovery methods in these landscape positions. The study also points out that field survey can only detect disturbed sites and calls for rethinking the main objectives of its application.