Evaluation of archaeological site potential on the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf using high‐resolution seismic data

Geophysics ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie J. Stright
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Prehistoric archaeological sites dating between 12 000 B.P. and 6 000 B.P. are expected on that portion of the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf which was subaerially exposed at 12 000 B.P. Although the archaeological sites are too small and their contrast to the surrounding sediments is insufficient to be resolved by high‐resolution seismic profilers, geomorphic features, such as fluvial channels, bays, lakes, etc., with which these sites are frequently associated are easily detected with seismic methods. High‐resolution seismic reflection data from the Gulf of Mexico have produced evidence of relict fluvial systems with well‐preserved terraces, point bars, and levee ridges, occurring within 9.0 m or less of the present seafloor. Regional studies which detail the late Pleistocene and Holocene geology of the Gulf of Mexico, and published sea level curves, indicate that these fluvial features date from the late Wisconsin and early Holocene periods when prehistoric man’s presence in the Gulf Coast Region is well documented. Verifying the presence of archaeological sites in association with these fluvial features will require physical and chemical analysis of sediment cores from each location. The Minerals Management Service is presently conducting an archaeological study designed to investigate relict fluvial features similar to those discussed in this paper. The physical and chemical analyses of the sedimentary cores collected during this study are presently incomplete; however, initial inspection of the cores indicates the presence of well‐preserved lithosomes. The preservation potential of any archaeological sites occurring within these lithosomes also would be excellent.

Mapping and Monitoring of the Land Use/Cover Changes in the Wider Area of ltanos, Crete, Using Very High Resolution EO Imagery With Specific Interest in Archaeological Sites

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sawyer Reid stippa ◽  
George Petropoulos ◽  
Leonidas Toulios ◽  
Prashant K. Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Satellite Images ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Digital Photography ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Large Area ◽  
High Resolution Imagery ◽  
Site Mapping ◽  
Rule Sets

Archaeological site mapping is important for both understanding the history as well as protecting them from excavation during the developmental activities. As archaeological sites generally spread over a large area, use of high spatial resolution remote sensing imagery is becoming increasingly applicable in the world. The main objective of this study was to map the land cover of the Itanos area of Crete and of its changes, with specific focus on the detection of the landscape’s archaeological features. Six satellite images were acquired from the Pleiades and WorldView-2 satellites over a period of 3 years. In addition, digital photography of two known archaeological sites was used for validation. An Object Based Image Analysis (OBIA) classification was subsequently developed using the five acquired satellite images. Two rule-sets were created, one using the standard four bands which both satellites have and another for the two WorldView-2 images their four extra bands included. Validation of the thematic maps produced from the classification scenarios confirmed a difference in accuracy amongst the five images. Comparing the results of a 4-band rule-set versus the 8-band showed a slight increase in classification accuracy using extra bands. The resultant classifications showed a good level of accuracy exceeding 70%. Yet, separating the archaeological sites from the open spaces with little or no vegetation proved challenging. This was mainly due to the high spectral similarity between rocks and the archaeological ruins. The satellite data spatial resolution allowed for the accuracy in defining larger archaeological sites, but still was a difficulty in distinguishing smaller areas of interest. The digital photography data provided a very good 3D representation for the archaeological sites, assisting as well in validating the satellite-derived classification maps. All in all, our study provided further evidence that use of high resolution imagery may allow for archaeological sites to be located, but only where they are of a suitable size archaeological features.

Tsunami hazard from lacustrine mass wasting in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Vol 477 (1) ◽  
pp. 413-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshu J. Mountjoy ◽  
Xiaoming Wang ◽  
Susi Woelz ◽  
Sean Fitzsimons ◽  
Jamie D. Howarth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Lake Basin ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Reflection Data ◽  
Tectonically Active ◽  
Tsunami Risk ◽  
Western Shore ◽  
The Impact

AbstractLacustrine-tsunami risk from landslides can be significant yet for most locations globally the hazard remains unquantified. Lake Tekapo, in the tectonically active mountain belt of New Zealand's South Island, has been chosen to develop surveying and modelling techniques to assess the hazard from landslide tsunamis. Lake Tekapo is ideal for this study due to the high sedimentation rates, steep surrounds and the proximity to active faulting that indicate a high landslide potential. The shoreline tourist settlement and hydropower infrastructure mean the impact of any tsunami could be significant. In 2016 a survey was carried out to collect high-resolution (1 m grid) EM2040 multibeam bathymetry, high-resolution seismic reflection data (Boomer and chirp) and 6 m long sediment cores. These data reveal a diverse range of sedimentary processes in response to high sediment input and numerous landslides with varied styles of emplacement. For example, a one-off landslide initiated 40 m above the shoreline with debris deposits that have runout onto the lake floor to 100 m water depth contrasts with the Cass River delta on the western shore that has failed multiple times during the lake-basin infilling history. Landslide-generated tsunami scenarios are used to determine the relative hazard at different regions of the lake to guide development of a probabilistic tsunami model.

scholarly journals Records of plutonium isotopes in marine sediments from the southern Gulf of Mexico

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose A. Corcho Alvarado ◽  
Misael Diaz-Asenciuo ◽  
Stefan Röllin ◽  
Juan Carlos Herguera
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Global Fallout ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Deep Sea Sediments ◽  
Pu Isotopes ◽  
Upper Slope

Abstract Here we report on new data on plutonium (Pu) isotopes to elucidate activity concentrations, inventories, sources and their transport from the ocean surface to the sea floor from a collection of deep-sea sediment cores (depths ranging from 257 to 3739 m) in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Sediment cores collected from the continental shelf and upper slope region of the GoM consistently showed 240Pu/239Pu ratios of 0.15 to 0.26 and Pu-inventories ranging from 15 to 35 Bq m− 2. Inventories and ratios are consistent with global fallout Pu for this tropical region. In the continental shelf and upper slope regions, higher particle concentrations close to the margins favor significant scavenging and removal of Pu from the water column; in contrast with the deep-sea cores that show low 240Pu/239Pu ratios (0.07–0.13) and a much lower Pu inventory (< 7 Bq m-2) implying a small fraction of the expected global fallout inventory has reached into the lower slopes and abyssal plain of the GoM. Low values and a progressive decrease of 240Pu/239Pu ratios and Pu inventories with increasing water depth have been previously reported for the GoM. The low Pu ratios indicate that Nevada tests fallout was an important source of Pu to deep-sea sediments, and that this source was likely more efficiently removed from the water column than global fallout Pu. Analysis of Pu isotopes in two sediment traps from the upper slope regions show 240Pu/239Pu ratios comparable to the ones observed in the global fallout. These results indicate that global fallout Pu is currently the main source of Pu in water column particles. Therefore, a significant fraction of global fallout Pu must still be present; either in a dissolved phase, or as biologically recycled material in the water column, or scavenged on the shelf and shelf break. Our results bring to light important questions on the application of Pu isotopes to establish sediment chronologies, since these radionuclides are shown to be tracers of bioturbation rather than accumulation processes in deep-sea sediments of the GoM, similar to previously reported results from excess 210Pb.

scholarly journals ASPECTOS GEOARQUEOLÓGICOS DO SÍTIO CEMITÉRIO CAIXA D’ÁGUA: VALE DO SÃO FRANCISCO - MINAS GERAIS/BRASIL.

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernando Baggio Filho ◽  
Mariana de Oliveira Freitas ◽  
Thalita Siqueira de Meneses ◽  
Thiago Martins Da Costa
Keyword(s):  
Soil Surface ◽  
Soil Classification ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Soil Geochemistry ◽  
Surface Samples ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Archeological Site

Esta breve comunicação, tem como proposta apresentar aos leitores, um dos mais importantes sítios arqueológicos a céu aberto ao longo do Vale do São Francisco o Sítio Arqueológico Cemitério Caixa d’Água, localizado no município de Buritizeiro, norte do Estado de Minas Gerais. O projeto de pesquisa é financiado pela Fundação de Amaparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais - FAPEMIG, e tem como objetivo principal entender o padrão de aldeamento pré-histórico do sítio arqueológico. Foi montado uma malha superfial de amostragens, o material coletado será submetido a análises físico-químicas, químicas e mineralógica (classificação dos solos, fracionamento, cor dos solos, mineralogia, entre outras); químicas (pH, Zn, Cu, Ca, Cr, P, Pb e C orgânico Total ), além disso, a caracterização do ambiente físico. Os resultados obtidos poderão elucidar alguns dos principais enigmas arqueológicos do sítio, como por exemplo, os vários momentos de ocupação pré-histórica que ocorreram no sítio arqueológico Cemitério Caixa d’Água.Palavras-chave: Sítio arqueológico, FAPEMIG, solos, geoquímica ABSTRACT: THE CAIXA D’ÁGUA CEMETERY SITE GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL ASPECTS: SÃO FRANCISCO VALLEY- MINAS GERAIS/BRAZIL. This brief communication, has a proposal to present to readers, one of the most important archaeological sites in the open along the São Francisco Valley Cemetery the archaeological site Caixa d’ água, located in the municipality of Buritizeiro, north of Minas Gerais. The research project is funded by the Fundação de Amaparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais - FAPEMIG, and has as main objective to understand the pattern of village's prehistoric archaeological site. Will be mounted, a mesh surface samples (geocoding, geoprocessing, soil, surface geochemistry, etc.). The collected material will be subjected to physical and chemical analyzes (soil classification, division, color of soil and others); chemical (pH, Zn, Cu, Ca, Cr, P, Pb, and total organic carbon), mineralogical analysis of soils, in addition, the characterization of the physical environment. The results may explain some of the major puzzles of the archaeological site, for example, the various moments of prehistoric archaeological site that occurred in the Caixa d’ água cemetery.Keywords: Archeological site, FAPEMIG, soil, geochemistry

scholarly journals Mapping and monitoring of the land use/cover changes in the wider area of Itanos, Crete, using very high resolution EO imagery with specific interest in archaeological sites

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander R. Brown ◽  
George Petropoulos ◽  
Leonidas Toulios ◽  
Swaiti Suman
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Site Mapping ◽  
Object Based ◽  
Rule Sets ◽  
Rule Set

Archaeological site mapping is important for both understanding the history and protectingthe sites from excavation during developmental activities. As archaeological sites aregenerally spread over a large area, use of high spatial resolution remote sensing imageryis becoming increasingly applicable in the world. The main objective of this study is tomap the land cover of the Itanos area of Crete and of its changes, with specific focus onthe detection of the landscape’s archaeological features. Six satellite images were acquiredfrom the Pleiades and WorldView-2 satellites over a period of 3 years. In addition, digitalimagery of two known archaeological sites was used for validation. An object-based imageanalysis classification was subsequently developed using the five acquired satellite images.Two rule sets were created, one using the standard four bands which both satellites haveand another for the two WorldView-2 images with their four extra bands included. Validationof the thematic maps produced from the classification scenarios confirmed a differencein accuracy amongst the five images. Comparing the results of a 4-band rule set versusthe 8-band rule set showed a slight increase in classification accuracy using extra bands.The resultant classifications showed a good level of accuracy exceeding 70%. Yet, separatingthe archaeological sites from the open spaces with little or no vegetation proved tobe challenging. This was mainly due to the high spectral similarity between rocks and thearchaeological ruins. The high resolution of the satellite data allowed for the accuracy indefining larger archaeological sites, but still there was difficulty in distinguishing smallerareas of interest. The digital image data provided a very good 3D representation for thearchaeological sites, assisting as well as in validating the satellite-derived classificationmaps. To conclude, our study provides further evidence that use of high resolution imagerymay allow for archaeological sites to be located, but only where the archaelogical featuresare of an adequate size.

scholarly journals Near-surface diffractor detection at archaeological sites based on an interferometric workflow

Geophysics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-75
Author(s):  
Jianhuan Liu ◽  
Deyan Draganov ◽  
Ranajit Ghose ◽  
Quentin Bourgeois
Keyword(s):  
Field Data ◽  
Waveform Inversion ◽  
Synthetic Data ◽  
Spatial Summation ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Magnetic Survey ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Reflection Data

Detecting small-size objects is a primary challenge at archaeological sites due to the high degree of heterogeneity present in the near surface. Although high-resolution reflection seismic imaging often delivers the target resolution of the subsurface in different near-surface settings, the standard processing for obtaining an image of the subsurface is not suitable to map local diffractors. This happens because shallow seismic-reflection data are often dominated by strong surface waves which might cover weaker diffractions, and because traditional common-midpoint moveout corrections are only optimal for reflection events. Here, we propose an approach for imaging subsurface objects using masked diffractions. These masked diffractions are firstly revealed by a combination of seismic interferometry and nonstationary adaptive subtraction, and then further enhanced through crosscoherence-based super-virtual interferometry. A diffraction image is then computed by a spatial summation of the revealed diffractions. We use phase-weighted stack to enhance the coherent summation of weak diffraction signals. Using synthetic data, we show that our scheme is robust in locating diffractors from data dominated by strong Love waves. We test our method on field data acquired at an archaeological site. The resulting distribution of shallow diffractors agrees with the location of anomalous objects identified in the Vs model obtained by elastic SH/Love full-waveform inversion using the same field data. The anomalous objects correspond to the position of a suspected burial, also detected in an independent magnetic survey and corings.

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