Remote sensing in the study of Late Bronze Age settlements in North-Western Crimea

DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2020-4-26-299-310

View or download the article (Rus)

About the Authors

Tatiana N. Smekalova

V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol,
Vernadsky Ave, 4, 295007, Simferopol, Russia,

National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”,
1, Academitian Kurchatov Square, Moscow, 123182, Russia,

E-mail: tnsmek@mail.ru

Maja T. Kashuba

Institute of the History of Material Culture,
Dvortsovaya quay, 18, Saint-Petersburg, 191186, Russia,
E-mail: mirra-k@yandex.ru

Abstract

The article is devoted to the results of applying a comprehensive interdisciplinary methodology combining remote sensing methods, GIS, geophysical and archaeological research the Late Bronze for revealing and investigation of the Late Bronze Age settlements in the North-Western Crimea. The discovery of these settlements causes a certain difficulty, since they are buried under a layer of soil and do not have direct visual signs. A comprehensive step-by-step method of non-destructive remote sensing was developed, including the analysis of high-resolution satellite images in the Google Earth Pro resource, identifying promising areas by plant and landscape features, creating GPS routes for ground reconnaissance, geophysical surveys (magnetic and electromagnetic) on promising areas for identifying Late Bronze Age settlements, GPS mapping of surface material, point archaeological sounding. All the results obtained are placed in a special geo-information system, the substrate layers of which are detailed topographic, soil, geological, hydrogeological, digital relief maps. As a result, 48 new settlements of the Late Bronze Age were identified, including 19 settlements with double stone pens. These pens were first discovered only with help of remote sensing methods, especially magnetic surveying. The final answer about the existence and layout of the settlement of the Late Bronze Age before the archaeological excavations is given only by magnetic and electromagnetic surveys. The GIS created on the monuments of the Late Bronze Age in the North-Western Crimea will serve both scientific purposes and to preserve the cultural heritage of the Republic of Crimea, which is especially important in conditions of rapid economic development of land and the construction of trunk roads.

Keywords

remote sensing, GIS, magnetic and electromagnetic surveys, Late Bronze Age settlements, Northwestern Crimea

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For citation: Smekalova T.N., Kashuba M.T. Remote sensing in the study of Late Bronze Age settlements in North-Western Crimea. InterCarto. InterGIS. GI support of sustainable development of territories: Proceedings of the International conference. Moscow: Moscow University Press, 2020. V. 26. Part 4. P. 299–310. DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2020-4-26-299-310 (in Russian)