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An Interdisciplinary Non‐invasive Approach to Landscape Archaeology of the Great War
Author(s) -
Saey Timothy,
Stichelbaut Birger,
Bourgeois Jean,
Eetvelde Veerle Van,
Meirvenne Marc Van
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
archaeological prospection
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.785
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1099-0763
pISSN - 1075-2196
DOI - 10.1002/arp.1437
Subject(s) - unexploded ordnance , archaeology , terrain , excavation , aerial survey , prospection , battlefield , scale (ratio) , landscape archaeology , geography , geology , remote sensing , history , cartography , engineering , civil engineering , ancient history , landscape design
The prospection and evaluation of former battlefields of the Great War or the First World War (WW I) poses specific challenges. For several reasons, large‐scale excavation campaigns of this conflict landscape are problematic. The vastness of the former Western Front (one of the largest archaeological sites in the world), the large amounts of buried unexploded ordnance and the possible presence of human remains hinder invasive practices. As an alternative, an integrated approach combining a geophysical survey, contemporary aerial photographs and a topographic model is proposed. This approach was evaluated for a 3.2 ha WW I battlefield using a multireceiver electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor. Integrating multiple apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and apparent magnetic susceptibility (MSa) EMI measurements allowed evaluation of the present WW I remains in the subsoil, while comparison with WW I aerial photographs and a digital terrain model led to a comprehensive understanding of the WW I landscape. It is suggested that this approach may be of value for the investigation of battlefields in other locations and periods. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.