Archaeological Survey Research Articles

The early west front of Lincoln Cathedral: the threshold to the Heavenly Jerusalem?

ABSTRACT This paper is the result of an archaeological survey of what remains of the Romanesque chambers and staircases found within the west front of Lincoln Cathedral. It provides evidence, for the first time, that Remigius had begun to build a symmetrically planned west front, complementing the three arched bays to the west and the arch to the south, with a further one on the north west elevation, not the plain wall and low arch we see today. It is argued that, rather than an example of an early fortified church or lord’s tower, as proposed by some scholars, the Romanesque west front of Lincoln Cathedral has within it evidence of a liturgical architectural form which was to be developed fully in thirteenth century west fronts, most famously at Wells and Salisbury.

Where Was Sarai, the “Capital” of the Jochid Ulus? Some Perspectives for Research on Sarai

Abstract Regarding Sarai – the “capital” of the Jochid ulus (Golden Horde) and the “metropolis of the Qipchaq Steppe” – it is the established theory that Old Sarai was located at the Selitrennoe site, and New Sarai at the Tsarevskoe site, both on the Akhtuba River. However, new theories that disagree with this have emerged: these theories claim that there was only one Sarai, or that Sarai was located at different places. First, I examine these new theories, and show that, indeed, there may have been two Sarais, old and new. Next, I argue the following possibilities: the lower Volga valley between Sarai–Hajji Tarkhan as winter camp and Ukek–Bulgar as summer camp was the “capital region” of the early Jochid ulus; Saraijuq has been discussed as being the khans’ burial grounds (qoruq), however, from archaeological surveys and the “[dynasty] table” (jadwal) in the Paris manuscript of Muntakhab al-Tawārīkh-i Muʿīnī, Sarai (and its suburbs) also assumed that role.

The “Halep Arki” (Aleppo Channel), a Mamluk Era Water System for Aleppo

Due to its low rainfall and limited potential for water retention, northern Syria has always had access to and control of water as one of the main features of states in the region aiming to maintain their rule. This article introduces new information about the Mamluk period water adduction system of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, which brought water to the Quwayq River, the city’s most important source of water. A newly documented part of the system, known in the Gaziantep region of Türkiye as the “Halep Arki” (the Aleppo channel), is discussed along with Mamluk-era inscriptions associated with it. During archaeological survey conducted between 2016 and 2018 in the Oguzeli region of Türkiye’s Gaziantep province, an open-air channel connected to a qanat-like tunnel with vertical shafts was documented, in addition to two inscriptions carved into the bedrock where the open-air channel met the tunnel. These inscriptions, which have been damaged over the centuries, were documented using RTI (Reflectance Transformation Imaging) technology, which allowed portions of one of them to be read. The survey showed that this Mamluk era water system was also used and expanded in the Ottoman period beginning with the conquest of the region in the 16th century. Spoil heaps show that the system was cleaned, likely during the Ottoman era. The closing of gaps in the bedrock that came about due to earthquakes or other reasons with stone walling may also have taken place in the Ottoman period. Also, in the Ottoman period, water from other springs was added to the system and various regulations on the use of water introduced. In this article, based on topographic and hydrological study of the region, we offer suggestions of the sources of the spring water that were joined to this system.

Dating and Characterising the Transformation of a Monastic Landscape. A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Agrarian Spaces of Samos Abbey (NW Spain)

ABSTRACT This paper explores the potential of a multidisciplinary approach to understand landscape evolution over the last 1200 years around an important monastic centre, Samos Abbey, in northwest Iberia. Our objective is to test whether or not landscape transformations here – in particular terracing related to agriculture – can be linked to the agency of the monks. Our landscape study combined analysis of written sources with archaeological survey and test-pitting, including OSL profiling and dating of seven earthworks, with pollen and geochemical analysis of three of them. It has been possible to detect at least four main phases of landscape transformation in the immediate surroundings of Samos Abbey. The mid-seventeenth century saw the most recent and visible transformations, partly overprinting earlier landscapes changes from the Iron Age, eighth–ninth and thirteenth centuries AD. The data suggest that landscape transformation had already begun in this area centuries before the abbey was created, but the presence of this power centre from the early Middle Ages resulted in intensive use of the territory over the last twelve centuries.

Verification of Geophysical Surveys by New Archaeological Excavations on the Grounds of the Middle La Tène Site of Němčice in 2021–2022

The Němčice site located in a strategic area of an agricultural plateau represents one of the most important archaeological sites in Moravia. Non-destructive archaeological surveys including a largescale magnetometer survey, field artefact collections, and metal detector surveys have been carried out there repeatedly over the past two decades. New archaeological excavations during a new project were focused on selected areas and situations identified during magnetometer prospection. The results of an archaeological investigation of the site using test pits confirmed settlement, glass-making and ritual activity under magnetic anomalies at the site. The new possibility of comparing uncovered sunken features and distributions of magnetic anomalies provided new feedback for a more precise interpretation of similar anomalies from magnetograms. An additional detailed apparent magnetic susceptibility measurement in situ showed another possibility for the application of the geophysical method during archaeological excavations. We were able to obtain additional information about the fills or possible post-depositional processes of various sunken features in the case of vertical profiles monitored by magnetic susceptibility meter measurements. The use and combination of various geophysical data has been beneficial in the case of an archaeological site as important as Němčice, and will continue to be so in future archaeological research of the site.

The archaeological survey of remains from the 1982 Falklands war

ABSTRACT This paper provides an introduction and progress report on the first season of fieldwork carried out by the Falklands War Mapping Project. In March and April 2022, a team including two Scots Guards veterans travelled to the Falkland Islands and surveyed field fortifications and artefacts related to the Battle of Tumbledown (13–14 June 1982). The focus was on the western and southern flanks of the feature, with a notable series of Argentine dugouts recorded on the low ground at the southern base of the mountain. The first five days were spent in COVID-19 quarantine in Stanley, followed by eight days dedicated to the Tumbledown survey and site visits – a further three days were spent on Pebble Island by two of the project team. This project marks the first occasion on which the veterans of a battle have been engaged in the archaeological survey of their own battlefield.

The Mousterian in North-Western Tuscany: new data from the Piano di Mommio sites

Background The Mousterian technocomplex is commonly associated with Neanderthals and therefore serves as a proxy for their presence across Europe. Stratified archaeological sites are the most informative because they can yield information about artefacts' spatial distribution and dating. Only a few of the Mousterian sites in Tuscany (Italy) met these conditions and most of these sites are concentrated in the North-Western region, with three specific sites situated in proximity to the village of Piano di Mommio, on the slopes of a small river canyon. Nevertheless, research on the sites stopped early on due to their small extent and complete excavation, which does not allow for additional fieldwork. Methods This article presents previously unpublished field notes, reports, and images, which are then correlated with recent archaeological surveys. Results This combination of historical and contemporary data aims to provide a more detailed understanding of the context in which the assemblages at these sites were found. The insights gained from this research shed light on the arrangement and positioning of artefacts at these locations, offering valuable information to guide future investigations on the assemblages. Conclusions By enhancing our knowledge of Neanderthal presence in this region through this interdisciplinary approach, this study contributes to a better understanding of the Mousterian culture and the broader narrative of human prehistory in Italy. It underscores the importance of integrating historical field data with modern archaeological techniques to advance our understanding of human history.

You Can’t Make an Omelette without Breaking an Egg. Surveying Submerged Paleo-terrains with a Mechanical Excavator

Abstract Preserved Stone Age sites and prehistoric landscapes under water can often be challenging to find and access for archaeologists. In consequence, the Viking Ship Museum has, within recent years, frequently used mechanical excavators in archaeological surveys to find and delineate Stone Age sites and prehistoric landscape features. In this article, the authors provide an overview of the introduction of mechanical excavators in maritime archaeology. The respective advantages and limitations of the method are then discussed in light of different scientific and practical considerations. Finally, as a case study, we present our proposed best practice for the method using the recent archaeological survey at the development-led project of Lynetteholmen, Copenhagen. The authors conclude that using mechanical excavators to survey paleo-landscapes is a very effective but potentially destructive method. Most importantly, the method provides access to sediment depths and areas that are inaccessible to divers alone.

Neptunus and To Løver: An Archaeological, Archival, and Dendrochronological Survey of Two Danish Prize Ships, Scuttled in the Stockholm Archipelago in 1659

Abstract We report the archaeological survey, dendrochronological analysis, and archival research concerning two shipwrecks located in shallow waters outside Vaxholm in the Stockholm Archipelago, Baltic Sea. According to oral tradition, the two wrecks are the remains of Neptunus and To Løver, two former Danish warships that were taken as prizes at the battle of Fehmarn in 1644. The Swedish navy then used the two ships until 1659, when they were reportedly scuttled as a blockage along the sea route towards Stockholm. Before being intentionally scuttled, the two ships drifted away and sank. The work presented in this article confirms the substance of the tradition and reports that substantial portions of the two ships are preserved. Moreover, the two wrecks shed light on the scuttling process and the construction of an underwater barrier.

Archaeological Survey and Lithic Artifacts Analysis of Prehistoric Sites in the Upper Jing River Basin, China

ABSTRACT The Jing River Basin is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization, but there has been no systematic research on prehistoric archaeology in this region to date. Recently, researchers conducted archaeological surveys of four prehistoric sites in the upper reaches of the Jing River and collected a batch of lithic artifacts. This article employs a combined approach of typological analysis and technique analysis to study the lithic artifacts. Results show that the operational method involves core preparation and flaking by direct percussion. Compared to other prehistoric sites in China, it is evident that the discovered sites belong to the prehistoric culture of the upper Yellow River region. By combining the collected pottery, it can be more precisely determined that the four sites surveyed in this investigation represent the Qijia Culture of the Neolithic period. This is a unique prehistoric culture in the northwest of China.

X-ray computed microtomography: A non-invasive and time-efficient method for identifying and screening Roman copper-based coins

This study utilises X-ray Computed Micro-Tomography (μXCT) as a non-destructive and non-invasive method to recover the original surface features and reveal the characteristics of encrusted, illegible Roman copper-based coins before any physical cleaning process is performed. The coins were retrieved from the topsoil during an archaeological survey in the countryside of the ancient city of Aquileia, Italy, and were severely degraded, covered with accumulated matter and pronounced encrustations developed over centuries of aging buried in soil. Despite their condition, most of the coins were identified from a numismatic standpoint using tomographic data alone, with the aid of reference images. They were subsequently cleaned using traditional manual methods and the results compared with μXCT. X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis of the coins after the physical cleaning confirmed their numismatic attribution and revealed information regarding the influence of different alloy compositions on the applicability of the μXCT method, as well as on the corrosion process of the coins.This study showcases how the application of μXCT on fragile corroded metal artifacts prior to any intrusive manual procedures can expedite the identification process, mitigating the risk of information loss caused by physical handling and cleaning. This approach proves particularly valuable when dealing with large numbers of coins that would typically require restoration for identification purposes. It also emphasises the numerous advantages of using μXCT for coin identification, provenance determination, dating, virtual restoration, digitisation, and long-term preservation.

Sacred offerings and secular foods on Reao Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago, East Polynesia

ABSTRACTIn 1976, Yosihiko H. Sinoto conducted extensive archaeological survey and excavations on Reao Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago as part of a Japanese, multi‐disciplinary expedition led by Prof. Sachiko Hatanaka. Primarily excavating three marae and four habitation sites totalling ∼180 m2, more than 25000 vertebrate remains were recovered. We report the jidentification and analysis of the fauna and contrast the inventories from secular and sacred contexts inferring the ritual use of pig, dog, turtle and tuna (Scombridae), as well as identifying relatively larger parrotfish (Scaridae), groupers (Serranidae), snappers (Lutjanidae), the Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and sharks/rays (Elasmobranchii) on marae. With a suite of 11 new AMS age determinations, we report the first directly dated precontact records for pig and dog and anchor the marae chronology possibly beginning in the thirteenth century. The 800 calBP dates imply that at least one of the Tuamotu atolls may have emerged nearly two centuries prior to the hypothesised ‘cross‐over’ date of 600 BP. Consequently, the earliest chronology of atoll emergence along the 1000 km length of the Tuamotus might vary, thus providing landscapes for human colonisation at slightly different times which has implications for the speed and tempo of colonisation.

The Chaco Great North Road: Archaeological Survey and Ceramic Analysis by the San Juan Valley Archaeological Project

Research by Cynthia Irwin-Williams and the San Juan Valley Archaeological Project during the 1970s included investigations at Salmon Pueblo, near modern Bloomfield, NM. Interest focused on the construction and early occupation by immigrants from Chaco Canyon. Research also included the 80 km Great North Road, which joined Pueblo Alto at the southern end with Salmon Pueblo at the northern terminus. In order to investigate the North Road, Pierre Morenon conducted an intensive foot survey of the road trajectory and associated features. A large ceramic collection from the road and nearby sites was analyzed by Hayward Franklin. Pottery types dated mostly from 1050 to 1130 CE. A typical assemblage of decorated and utility pottery came northward from Chaco Canyon centers. Smaller amounts of northern San Juan pottery also occurred, signifying transport of ceramics and other goods southward from outliers at Salmon and Aztec Pueblos.

Integrating legacy survey data into GIS‐based analysis: The rediscovery of the archaeological landscapes in Grevena (Western Macedonia, Greece)

AbstractSurface archaeological survey has been widely established as the principal method for the regional study of Mediterranean diachronic landscapes. Before the introduction of GPS and digital, GIS‐based recordings in the late 1990s, survey projects employed analogue recording strategies (e.g. personal notebooks, printed forms and cartographic materials) resulting in low‐precision spatial datasets. These archives, termed here as legacy survey data, can today be visualized and analysed using computational tools. The aim of the present work is to exemplify how legacy data can be reused and reproduced to explore unknown aspects of past survey projects. It showcases a multi‐source, GIS‐structured workflow to manage and re‐evaluate data from the region of Grevena, north‐western Greece, where a largely unpublished all‐period extensive survey titled the Grevena Project has pinpointed a rich, yet unavailable to the archaeological community cultural record. The publications lacked critical evaluation of the survey results and significance, such as accurate site locations, size and chronology as well as a description of the field collection strategies used. To recover and combine these data into a single geodataset, a three‐step workflow was created, including the systematic recording of collected artefacts, the deployment of archival and remote‐sensing resources (e.g. georeferenced cartographic and photographic materials and satellite imagery) and the development of a new extensive survey in selected areas for validation purposes. Results indicated heterogeneity in the techniques employed by the Grevena Project for site recognition. They also brought an important assemblage of Palaeolithic finds unrecorded before. Furthermore, large‐scale geomorphological analysis using geomorphometric approaches demonstrated an irregularly high density of sites in elevated areas, which is considered a surveying bias. Remote sensing sources including archival aerial photographs highlighted regional landscape changes (e.g. in forest coverage) revealing architectural remains unmapped before. Finally, the new survey around Ayios Georgios showed the discovery of several new sites, emphasizing a case study of much more complex dynamics than originally considered during the Grevena Project.

Ancient lands and lands in formation: new applications of remote sensing for archaeological surveys of Amazonian floodplains

Resumo As várzeas e suas paisagens estão presentes em várias teorias sobre a ocupação humana na região amazônica. Entretanto, ainda há lacunas sobre a diversidade de ambientes e temporalidades que compõem esse ecossistema. Várzeas amazônicas são planícies sazonalmente inundadas, formadas por rios com alta carga sedimentar. Ainda que conhecidas pela abundância de recursos aquáticos e a fertilidade de suas terras, não há métodos de prospecção arqueológica construídos para esses contextos. Por isso, existem poucos sítios registrados. Como prospectar sítios em áreas submetidas a um intenso dinamismo geomorfológico? Buscando preencher essas lacunas, partiu-se de um estudo de caso realizado em uma área de várzeas entre Alenquer e Curuá (oeste paraense, Baixo Amazonas) para entender suas dinâmicas fluviais de formação e propor ferramentas e métodos de prospecção específicos para terrenos de várzea. Trabalhou-se na construção de uma metodologia que inclui a análise das transformações da várzea através do estudo de imagens de satélite, entre 1991 e 2015. Em seguida, interpretou-se a deposição geomorfológica e propôs-se uma cronologia da formação da várzea, procurando detectar áreas mais estáveis e antigas (onde há mais chances de preservação de sítios). Essa pesquisa traz contribuições metodológicas de prospecção em áreas extensas, sujeitas a dinâmicas contínuas de inundações sazonais.

Large-scale, collaborative imagery survey in archaeology: the Geospatial Platform for Andean Culture, History and Archaeology (GeoPACHA)

Imagery-based survey is capable of producing archaeological datasets that complement those collected through field-based survey methods, widening the scope of analysis beyond regions. The Geospatial Platform for Andean Culture, History and Archaeology (GeoPACHA) enables systematic registry of imagery survey data through a ‘federated’ approach. Using GeoPACHA, teams pursue problem-specific research questions through a common data schema and interface that allows for inter-project comparisons, analyses and syntheses. The authors present an overview of the platform's rationale and functionality, as well as a summary of results from the first survey campaign, which was carried out by six projects distributed across the central Andes, five of which are represented here.

Eyes of the machine: AI-assisted satellite archaeological survey in the Andes

Archaeological surveys conducted through the inspection of high-resolution satellite imagery promise to transform how archaeologists conduct large-scale regional and supra-regional research. However, conducting manual surveys of satellite imagery is labour- and time-intensive, and low target prevalence substantially increases the likelihood of miss-errors (false negatives). In this article, the authors compare the results of an imagery survey conducted using artificial intelligence computer vision techniques (Convolutional Neural Networks) to a survey conducted manually by a team of experts through the Geo-PACHA platform (for further details of the project, see Wernke et al. 2023). Results suggest that future surveys may benefit from a hybrid approach—combining manual and automated methods—to conduct an AI-assisted survey and improve data completeness and robustness.

Археологічні пам’ятки Любеча

The archaeological heritage of Liubech (Lyubech, Chernihiv region, Ukraine) includes various monuments and objects from the Bronze Age to early Modernity (2000 BC – 17th century) with small time gaps. Archaeological surveys in Liubech began in the late 19th century and have continued until today with certain interruptions. Despite the close attention paid by scholars to the archaeological monuments of Liubech, it should be noted that the area of the city within its administrative boundaries (both the floodplain part of the Dnieper River and the densely developed part of the town) has not been sufficiently studied.

Application of mobile digital recording and GIS analysis of archaeological surface survey finds in the MapFarm project

Recent technological developments in the field of mobile devices have influenced the way archaeological surveys are conducted. The collection, management and analysis of archaeological data have been enriched through the use of new digital applications and devices. This paper presents a case study of the application of a technique for digital recording of archaeological surface finds in the MapFarm project, along with the subsequent analysis. This technique relies on the capabilities of modern mobile devices and web technologies, combined with the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It enables the direct digital recording of the exact location of artefacts in the field, using the GNSS receiver of smartphones, allowing the rapid extraction of collected data and their analysis with GIS. The technique was applied during the systematic archaeological survey of selected prehistoric settlements in Aegean Thrace, in the context of the research project MapFarm, which aims to expand our knowledge about the Neolithic settlers of Aegean Thrace. The implementation of this technique has significantly reduced the time required for recording in the field, ensuring at the same time a more efficient and precise analysis of data. In addition, more firm conclusions emerged regarding the distribution of the archaeological finds in the context of the intra-site level and the site’s extent, by comparison to older surface survey techniques. Analyses performed through the GIS digital tools provided an improved approach to the distribution of surface finds at the settlements under investigation.

Low-cost GPS/GNSS Real Time Kinematic receiver to build a cartographic grid on the ground for an archaeological survey at Piscina Torta (Italy)

The collection of samples and finds for archaeological surveys is traditionally based on the establishment of grids that allow the area under study to be discretized into generally square cells in order to allow a statistical assessment of the highest or lowest concentration of finds. Currently, such grids are implemented in a local coordinate system established by means of total stations or tape measures. We validated the capabilities of a low-cost GPS/GNSS Real Time Kinematic (RTK) receiver to build a grid during the intensive archaeological survey of the Piscina Torta site (Italy), in the framework of the Salt and Power project of the University of Groningen. We also tested not using a local grid but a cartographic grid (WGS84 UTM zone 33 N) and naming the single cells with the coordinates of one of its vertices. This approach is greatly facilitated by the recent availability of inexpensive RTK receivers with few centimetres accuracy, very small in size and weight and with hardware protected enough to be used in the field. This would facilitate the use and exchange of the data (e.g. about the materials collected in the cell) among the scientific community and can be thought of as a proposal for standardization.