Use of remote methods for rapid assessment of structure in archaeological sites

The majority of archaeological sites has a vast area and often lacks relief, which makes it difficult to assess their composition and boundaries. This required elaboration and implementation of high-precision and high-performance remote methods in archaeology. Recently, thanks to new geoelectric unit “Geovizer, ” designed by the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum-Gas Geology and Geophysics of the SB RAS, it has become possible to significantly increase effectiveness and accuracy of shallow frequency profiling. Placing this equipment on the moving platform ensured the use of methodology for rapid assessment of structure and composition of archaeological sites, which involves aerial photography, shallow frequency profiling (“Geoviser” unit), and electrical tomography (“Skala” unit). This article presents the results of testing this set of methods at the Late Bronze Age settlement of Grishkina Rybalka (south of Western Siberia). Aerial photography from miniature drones provided information on relief of the surface over hundreds of square meters in one working day. Due to higher density of aerial photography points, the map of relative heights demonstrated more informative picture of the relief compared to tacheometric plan of the site. Setting the “Geoviser” unit on the platform moved by the car has made it possible to map the territory of the plowed ash pit in a short time. It has been established that the boundaries of the ash pit were larger than it had been previously established from the trail of surface finds. In addition, two new objects with similar features were found next to it. The method of shallow frequency profiling combined with high-precision positioning system proved to be similar to aerial photography in terms of performance. Electrical tomography provided information on underground features of dwellings. The study has revealed that the tested set of methods was highly effective and fostered rapid detection of structural features of archaeological sites.