CASE STUDY OF ON-THE-SPOT AND SURFACE MEDIEVAL OBJECTS - VERIFYING CURRENT REMOTE METHODS OF DOCUMENTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

Abstract

One of the limitations of satellite techniques in archaeological investigations is the land cover. Heritage objects may be more or less visible depending on the land cover type. Low vegetation, such as grass or small shrubs, will usually allow us to determine the location of archaeological objects if the difference in height between the object and vegetation is not significant enough. Forest or high vegetation cover makes it more challenging to determine the location of potentially artificial structures. This project's study area covered 50×70 km of the lower reaches of the Vistula River, Poland. The authors searched for anthropogenic objects close to watercourses and analysed nine different (point, line and surface type) objects having a defensive, sepulchral or settlement function. Circular objects, ditches and earth embankments, burial mounds and strongholds of regular forms were found during this research. Based on nine different models processed with LiDAR-based DEMs, several characteristics and relationships of various types of objects were demonstrated. Moreover, optimal models for searching for archaeological objects in forest areas were defined.