Mapping the roots of agriculture in southern Arabia: the application of satellite remote sensing, global positioning system and geographic information system technologies
✍ Scribed by M. Harrower; J. McCorriston; E. A. Oches
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2002
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 210 KB
- Volume
- 9
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1075-2196
- DOI
- 10.1002/arp.182
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Satellite remote sensing, global positioning system (GPS) and geographical information system (GIS) technologies form a powerful methodological and analytical triad for archaeological research, particularly in remote regions where few large‐scale maps are available. This paper outlines the application of these technologies as a component of the Roots of Agriculture in Southern Arabia (RASA) research project and provides a review for archaeologists interested in potential applications, particularly in arid and semi‐arid environments. We used LANDSAT satellite imagery and GPS data to construct a GIS and provide a foundation for the management and analysis of archaeological, geomorphological and palaeoecological evidence of middle Holocene environmental conditions and human land‐use in the remote highlands of southern Yemen. Using both supervized and unsupervized multispectral landscape classification procedures we categorized the landscape into seven classes based on landform and sedimentary cover characteristics. The resulting GIS helps us evaluate the relationship between landscape characteristics, site location, site preservation, and investigate associations with sociocultural and environmental variables. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.