Very High Resolution Satellite Remote Sensing as Part of an Integrated Approach for Archaeological Prospection at Tepe Düzen (Southwest Turkey)

Very high spatial resolution satellite (VHSRS) systems have considerably enhanced the possibilities of detailed archaeological prospection. An excellent illustration of the potential of VHSRS imagery is the discovery and the continuing evaluation of the archaeological site of Tepe Düzen (Turkish for “flat hill”) in southwest Turkey in 2004.

During extensive archaeological prospections on Tepe Düzen in 1994 and 1997 the extent and importance of the site were not acknowledged, because only some structures made of fieldstones and rocks were identified, and undiagnostic pottery was collected. Specific enhancement techniques on Quickbird imagery showed many rectilinear features forming building-like configurations. The analysis revealed that Tepe Düzen was most likely covered with a large site, extending over an area of at least 1.2 km². Its presence and extent was later confirmed by a targeted archaeological survey.

Despite its positive contributions, the possibilities of satellite imagery for mapping and interpretation of structures on archaeological sites depend on the type and characteristics of the VHSRS data and on on-site parameters, such as the dimensions of the remnants and the spectral contrast of the marks (shadow, soil and crop marks). Additional information about the internal site structures, which is absolutely necessary for further interpretation of the VHSRS data, is mainly retrieved from geophysics (electrical resistivity, magnetic survey, GPR) combined with ground control (intensive archaeological survey and excavations). Satellite remote sensing is not an exclusive prospection technique, but should be used in combination. This paper presents a stepwise interdisciplinary integration and back-coupling of very high resolution satellite remote sensing, archaeological survey, topographic mapping, geophysics and excavations for archaeological prospection.