Archaeological Surveying of Subarctic and Arctic Landscapes: Comparing the Performance of Airborne Laser Scanning and Remote Sensing Image Data

Alma Elizabeth Thuestad, Ole Risbøl, Jan Ingolf Kleppe, Stine Barlindhaug and Elin Rose Myrvoll
Additional contact information
Alma Elizabeth Thuestad: High North Department, Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU), Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
Ole Risbøl: Department of Archaeology and Cultural History, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
Jan Ingolf Kleppe: Troms and Finnmark County Council, Fylkeshuset, N-9815 Vadsø, Norway
Stine Barlindhaug: Sámediggi–The Sami Parliament, N-9735 Karasjok, Norway
Elin Rose Myrvoll: Sámediggi–The Sami Parliament, N-9735 Karasjok, Norway

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: What can remote sensing contribute to archaeological surveying in subarctic and arctic landscapes? The pros and cons of remote sensing data vary as do areas of utilization and methodological approaches. We assessed the applicability of remote sensing for archaeological surveying of northern landscapes using airborne laser scanning (LiDAR) and satellite and aerial images to map archaeological features as a basis for (a) assessing the pros and cons of the different approaches and (b) assessing the potential detection rate of remote sensing. Interpretation of images and a LiDAR-based bare-earth digital terrain model (DTM) was based on visual analyses aided by processing and visualizing techniques. 368 features were identified in the aerial images, 437 in the satellite images and 1186 in the DTM. LiDAR yielded the better result, especially for hunting pits. Image data proved suitable for dwellings and settlement sites. Feature characteristics proved a key factor for detectability, both in LiDAR and image data. This study has shown that LiDAR and remote sensing image data are highly applicable for archaeological surveying in northern landscapes. It showed that a multi-sensor approach contributes to high detection rates. Our results have improved the inventory of archaeological sites in a non-destructive and minimally invasive manner.

Keywords: cultural heritage; LiDAR; satellite image; aerial image; High North (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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