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Landscape archaeology and remote sensing in southern Madagascar
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Short Description: CD Clark, SM Garrod, MP Pearson - International Journal of Remote Sensing, 1998 - faculty.ksu.edu.saAbstract. This paper demonstrates how remote sensing can be used to aid the
general approach of landscape archaeology. The methodology and results of a
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Content Inside: int. j. remote sensing, 1998, vol. 19, no. 8, 1461± 1477
Landscape archaeology and remote sensing in southern Madagascar
C. D. CLARK² , S. M. GARROD² , and M. PARKER PEARSON
² Department of Geography & She eld Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Archaeology and Prehistory, University of She eld, She eld, England, UK (Received 14 May 1996; in ® nal form 6 October 1997)
Abstract. This paper demonstrates how remote sensing can be used to aid the general approach of landscape archaeology. The methodology and results of a project attempting to elucidate links and controls between environmental change and long-term social change in southern Madagascar are outlined. Multi-seasonal Landsat TM images, SPOT panchromatic and ERS-1 SAR images are used to produce a number of outputs. These include a general landcover map, a detailed map of forest extent and type (split into primary, secondary, and regenerative), ® eld pattern maps, and predictions of archaeological site locations based on spectral properties of known sites. From these maps it has been possible to predict possible former settlements, archaeological sites, and forests of sacred signi® cance.
1. Introduction This paper aims to demonstrate how remote sensing can be used to aid the general approach of landscape archaeology using a case study which attempts to elucidate the links and controls between environmental and social change in southern Madagascar. Landscape archaeology is a geographical approach whereby a region is investigated in an integrated manner, studying sites and artefacts not in isolation, but as aspects of living societies that once occupied the landscape (e.g., Tilley 1995). To do this it is necessary to collect and analyse archaeological and environmental data over large areas. Satellite imagery can be utilised to derive information about the contemporary landscape, and under certain circumstances it is possible to make inferences regarding former changes in the environment. As southern Madagascar is poorly mapped, remote sensing data can provide useful environmental information, and be used as a base map in its own right. Information covering large areas can be acquired at a fraction of the e ort that would be required by ® eld survey. During initial ® eld surveys a SPOT multispectral image (16 August 1989) was acquired as hardcopy prints at a scale of 1 : 100 000 which were used primarily as a navigation aid. Further remotely-sensed data was acquired, in digital format (table 1), to enable investigation of the following objectives;
1. Identi® cation of primary and regenerated forest, including possible further subdivision in terms of age, which is relevant to anthropogenic phases of forest clearance and settlement patterns. 2. Production of maps showing ® eld patterns, for use in assessing relative chronology of development. 3. Assessing the potential for mapping stone-cleared ® elds and settlement sites indicated by pottery scatters.
0143± 1161/98 $12.00 Ñ 1998 Taylor & Francis Ltd
