The Hatnub Quarries Industrial Landscape Survey 2017: Mobile-GIS Ground-truthing of the Satellite Remote-survey

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the 2017 mobile-GIS survey of 1 km2 around the Hatnub Egyptian alabaster quarries and analysis of the accuracy of the remote-survey of the same area, which was completed in 2016 using satellite imagery. The analysis revealed that remote-survey was a very accurate method for recording archaeological features in clear and unobstructed parts of the desert, while targeted mobile-GIS survey of obscure areas and questionable features was an effective method for reducing inaccuracies in remote-survey data. The results will inform future phases of the Hatnub Industrial Landscape Project and the fieldwork also identified several avenues of future research into routes and roads across the desert.