Use of aircraft-type UAVs for landscape archaeology (Yustyd archaeological microdistrict)

This article presents interdisciplinary research in the Yustyd archaeological microdistrict, which continued the study of this archaeological heritage area, unique in its diversity. The central subject of research was archaeological landscape. Its research involves analyzing natural geographical conditions in the "man-habitat-landscape ” system. Considering great area and variety of sites both in their configuration and dating, it was decided to use drones. Along with predominant number of sites of the Scythian period, sites of presumably Bronze Age and Early Scythian period are located in the floodplain of the valley. The greatest concentration of khirigsuurs is also in that area. High detail and elaboration of texture in orthomosaics provided valuable data for further study of these objects. Ground measurements and aerial photography made it possible to examine over 500 hectares of area in two days. High-resolution digital products (orthomosaic, digital matrix, and three-dimensional model) resulted from further photogrammetric processing of the footage using data from the ground-based GNSS measurements. The "tinting effect” obtained during evening shooting under oblique lighting can be used in the future, for example, while studying planigraphy of sites and their individual elements, and for drawing objects on topographic plans. The evidence on Yustyd has great capacity for the study and analysis of objects using calculation of indexed images, and may serve as a basis for elaborating a comprehensive interactive map of Yustyd.