436:, scouted the area on several trips, and stopped at a water well called Ash Shisar. Near this oasis was located a site previously identified as the 16th century Shis'r fort. Excavations uncovered an older settlement, and artifacts traded from far and wide were found. This older fort was found to have been built on top of a large limestone cavern which would have served as the water source for the fort, making it an important oasis on the trade route to Iram. As the residents of the fort consumed the water from underground, the water table fell, leaving the limestone roof and walls of the cavern dry. Without the support of the water, the cavern would have been in danger of collapse, and it seems to have done so some time between 300-500 AD, destroying the oasis and covering over the water source.
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and vegetation that can not be seen by the naked eye. Commercially available satellites have a .4m-90m resolution that make it possible to see most ancient sites and their associated features in such places as Egypt, Perù and Mexico. It is a hope of archaeologists that in the next few decades resolutions will improve to the point where they are capable of zooming in on a single pottery shard buried beneath the earth's surface.
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primarily ecological disaster. By detecting deforestation rates and trends can help us to understand how these same processes affected the Maya. An important contribution to the study of Maya has been provided by LiDAR thanks to its ability to penetrate dense tropical canopies. LiDAR has been applied to the site of
Caracol, Belize in 2009, revealing an impressive monumental complex covered by jungle.
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239:) and roads. Sever has stressed the enormous use of remote sensing in uncovering settlement patterns, population densities, societal structure, communication, and transportation. Sever has done much of his research in the Petén region of northern Guatemala, where he and his research team have used satellite imagery and
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technology is of very definite use there. The Petén is a densely forested region and it lacks modern settlements and infrastructure. As a result, it is extremely difficult to survey, and because of this remote sensing offers a solution to this research problem. The use of remote sensing techniques in
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Desmond, Lawrence G. and
William A. Sauck.Entering the Maya Underworld: A ground penetrating radar Survey at Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico. Innovation et Technologie au Service de Patrimoine de l'Humanite, Actes du colloque organise par Admitech en collaboration avec l'Unesco, Paris, 24 June 1996,
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of the Petén are undergoing massive deforestation, and Sever's remote sensing offers another window into this understanding and halting this problem. Monitoring the rate of deforestation not only has important ecological value, but the use of remote sensing can detect landscape change. By measuring
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Landscape features such as soil, vegetation, geology, and man-made structures of possible cultural interest have specific signatures that the multi-spectral satellites can help to identify. The satellites can then make a 3D image of the area to show if there are any man-made structures beneath soil
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Satellite archaeology is an emerging field of archaeology that uses high resolution satellites with thermal and infrared capabilities to pinpoint potential sites of interest in the earth around a meter or so in depth. The infrared light used by these satellites have longer wavelengths than that of
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topography could shed light on solutions to modern ecological problems that modern peoples in the Petén currently face, which is much the same, except there are fewer people who are causing even more damage to the biodiversity and cultural diversity. Sever believes that the Maya collapse was a
355:, provided important results by using satellite imagery for both site discovery and the protection of archaeological heritage. In particular, by processing QuickBird images a large buried settlement, including a pyramid, in the Nasca riverbed (Southern Peru), near the Ceremonial Center of
338:. This far outweighs the carrying capacity for this region, but this follows centuries of successful adaptation. Other data shows that by the end of the classic period, the Maya had already depleted much of the rain forest. Understanding how the ancient Maya adapted to this
334:. These offer a glimpse into Maya cultural adaptations during the period of their highest population density. At the height of the classic period, the population in the Maya lowlands was 500 - 1300 people per square mile in rural areas, and even more in
202:, thickly forested landscape which offers an incredible barrier for field archaeologists to penetrate. With the advent of remote sensing techniques, a plethora of information has been uncovered about the region and about the people that inhabited it.
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Chase, A.F.; Chase, D. Z.; Weishampel, J. F.; Drake, J. B.; Shrestha, R. L.; Slatton, K. C.; Awe, J. J. & Carter W. E. (2010). Airborne LiDAR, archaeology, and the ancient Maya landscape at
Caracol, Belize. Journal of Archaeological Science.
222:. Archaeologists have identified vegetative differentiation associated with such features. With the advent of remote sensing, archaeologists are able to pinpoint and study the features hidden beneath this canopy without ever visiting the jungle.
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visible light and are therefore capable of penetrating the Earth's surface. The images are then taken and processed by an archaeologist who specializes in satellite remote sensing in order to find any subtle anomalies on the Earth's surface.
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are not visible from the ground. By mapping these forms, Sever is able to locate new sites and further uncover ancient Maya methods of communicated and transportation. Sever and his team also use remote sensing methods to gather data on
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that could pose threats to such sites. In spite of this, satellites in archaeology are mostly a tool for broad scale survey and focused excavation. All archaeological projects need ground work in order to verify any potential findings.
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systems. Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR) has proved particularly useful in this research. SAR is a type of radar that is sensitive to linear and geometric features on the ground. It is also important to include a method called
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and related problems that have driven remote sensing methodology in the hopes of understanding the complex adaptations that the Maya developed. Remote sensing methods have also proven invaluable when working to discover
359:, has been detected. In the region of Lambayeque (Northern Peru), which is strongly affected by clandestine excavations, satellite imagery have been also employed for mapping and monitoring archaeological looting.
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Sever, Thomas and L and Irwin, Daniel E.LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY: Remote-sensing investigation of the ancient Maya in the Peten rainforest of northern
Guatemala. Ancient Mesoamerica. Issue 1, vol.14. January
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269:, as well as shifting land use patterns and the associated cultural diversity, archaeologists are given a window into depletion rates and trends in anthropogenic landscape alteration.
285:, or the process of physically visiting (on foot) the localities surveyed to verify the data and help inform the interpretation. GPS is often used to aid in this process.
318:". Sever's research on communication and transportation systems points to an extensive societal infrastructure capable of supporting the building and maintenance of the
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One of Sever's research goals is understanding the comparatively sudden decline of many Maya centers in the central
Lowlands region by the end of the 1st millennium
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Satellite archaeology is a non-invasive method for mapping and monitoring potential archaeological sites in an ever changing world that faces issues such as
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are also used for archaeological imaging. Although these are sometimes classed as remote sensing, they are usually considered a separate discipline (see
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Said-Moorhouse, Lauren. "Space archaeologist unlocks secrets to ancient civilizations". CNN Travel. 20 Sep. 2013. Website. 28 Jan. 2014.
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Pope, Kevin O. and Dahlin, Bruce H.Ancient Maya wetland agriculture: new insights from ecological and remote sensing research.
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The Petén is arguably one of the most difficult of the Maya landscapes in which to subsist. It is questions regarding
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Rindfuss, Ronald R and Stern, Paul C. Linking Remote
Sensing and Social Science: The Need and the New Challenges.
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this region is a great example of the applications these methods have for archaeologists. The Petén is a hilly,
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Sever, Thomas L.Validating
Prehistoric and Current Social Phenomena upon the Landscape of the Peten, Guatemala.
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archaeologist Tom Sever, who has applied remote sensing to research in Maya site discovery as well as mapping
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techniques allows archaeologists to uncover unique data that is unobtainable using traditional archaeological
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was identified as a possible location for an outpost of the lost civilization. A team including adventurer
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built to connect cities and settlements. These landscape artifacts represent the advantage of using
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are an increasingly important component of the technical and methodological tool set available in
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Remote
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Some of the most prominent remote sensing research has been done in regard to
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Ground-based geophysical methods have also been employed in Maya research.
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http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/02/travel/space-archaeologist-unlocks-secrets/
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uses satellites to search for sub-surface remains, as described in her
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727:"What is space archaeology?". Sarah Parcak. Website. 28 Jan. 2014.
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the magnitude of landscape change in terms of vegetative cover and
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routes and points where they converged. These roads were used as
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For the application of archaeology to artifacts in space, see
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People and Pixels: Linking Remote
Sensing and Social Science.
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People and Pixels: Linking Remote Sensing and Social Science.
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In Peru, an Italian scientific mission of CNR, directed by
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A pioneer in the use of remote sensing in Maya research is
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16190824
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Laser altimeters or light detection and ranging (LIDAR)
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http://www.sarahparcak.com/index2.php#/multi-text_5/1/
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to map undiscovered roads and causeways the ancient
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439:Four subsequent excavations were conducted by Dr.
272:Much attention has been devoted to the mapping of
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692:"The Frankincense Route Emerges From the Desert"
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515:National Academy Press. Washington D.C.1998. ,
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581:National Academy Press. Washington D.C.1998.,
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374:(or region surrounding the lost city) on the
84:Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS)
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762:BBC 4, 31 December 2013, Rome's Lost Empire
656:"Ancient Peru pyramid spotted by satellite"
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37:Remote sensing techniques in archaeology
409:trade routes around 2800 BC to 100 BC.
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749:"Rome's Lost Empire, BBC One, review"
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566:NASA archaeology website
384:ground penetrating radar
363:Location of ancient Iram
290:Ground Penetrating Radar
125:Ground Penetrating Radar
526:"Satellite archaeology"
316:(Classic) Maya collapse
1312:Methods in archaeology
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401:data to identify old
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161:groundwater pollution
139:Satellite archaeology
79:Hyperspectral Sensors
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189:region of northern
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536:13 February
403:camel train
397:as well as
183:Mesoamerica
181:studies in
1306:Categories
1264:Telescopes
1149:Technology
1002:Weathering
849:Psychology
834:Locomotion
702:2007-12-06
604:pp. 23-30.
499:References
477:Nile Delta
394:Challenger
332:reservoirs
278:irrigation
49:excavation
1245:for Earth
1232:Batteries
1214:Logistics
1166:Accidents
1112:Christmas
977:Corrosion
917:Tortoises
875:Non-human
372:lost city
320:causeways
253:causeways
251:as these
231:causeways
191:Guatemala
1107:Religion
1097:Military
1033:of Earth
912:Primates
839:Medicine
732:Archived
661:NBC News
487:See also
461:TED Talk
357:Cahuachi
216:cisterns
212:features
1269:Weapons
1237:Nuclear
1198:Writing
1193:Toilets
1176:Farming
1124:Tourism
1119:Selfies
1060:Economy
1025:Alcohol
1013:Society
997:Weather
972:Climate
882:Animals
829:Hygiene
808:Biology
463:on the
236:sacbeob
220:temples
200:karstic
157:looting
1241:Solar
1228:Power
1224:Mining
1129:Voting
1077:Ethics
1065:Mining
1050:Burial
982:Debris
934:Plants
414:Dhofar
328:canals
274:canals
260:. The
218:, and
185:. The
159:, and
64:Aerial
1259:Radar
1139:Women
1102:Music
1070:Trade
897:Frogs
866:Sleep
816:Human
473:Egypt
370:is a
340:karst
187:Petén
1181:Food
1087:Food
987:Dust
907:Mice
892:Dogs
887:Cats
614:2003
538:2014
418:Oman
399:SPOT
380:NASA
330:and
276:and
245:Maya
227:NASA
179:Maya
127:and
77:and
1134:War
1092:Law
1045:Art
861:Sex
626:doi
475:'s
445:ʿĀd
241:GIS
135:).
1308::
694:.
658:.
558:^
483:.
386:,
312:CE
214:,
155:,
793:e
786:t
779:v
738:.
705:.
644:.
628::
568:,
553:,
540:.
233:(
33:.
20:)
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