Evaluating the Archaeological Efficacy of Bathymetric LiDAR across Oceanographic Contexts: A Case Study from Apalachee Bay, Florida
This study presents preliminary results from recent bathymetric LiDAR-guided surveys of submerged archaeological landscapes in the Apalachee Bay off the coast of Florida. We show how bathymetric LiDAR can re-identify previously recorded archaeological sites and identify new cultural deposits at shal...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Heritage |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/2/51 |
| _version_ | 1827757209753223168 |
|---|---|
| author | Jessica W. Cook Hale Dylan S. Davis Matthew C. Sanger |
| author_facet | Jessica W. Cook Hale Dylan S. Davis Matthew C. Sanger |
| author_sort | Jessica W. Cook Hale |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study presents preliminary results from recent bathymetric LiDAR-guided surveys of submerged archaeological landscapes in the Apalachee Bay off the coast of Florida. We show how bathymetric LiDAR can re-identify previously recorded archaeological sites and identify new cultural deposits at shallow depths and help aid SCUBA surveys of submerged environments. While most prior archaeological applications of bathymetric LiDAR have focused on shipwrecks and historic era sites, our case study demonstrates that bathymetric LiDAR is capable of detecting Holocene and Pleistocene era archaeological sites as well. Detecting and eventually characterizing these ancient deposits will greatly expand our understanding of settlement trends when sea levels were lower and may provide insights into how some of the earliest coastal populations adapted to this novel and changing environment. Our SCUBA surveys also elucidate the impact of local environmental conditions of the applicability of deploying bathymetric LiDAR; specifically, eel grass cover does not hinder LiDAR capabilities, while high rates of sedimentation greatly reduce success in identifying archaeological deposits. Overall, our results show promise in the future of applying remote sensing to study shallow submerged archaeological landscapes, which can help improve our understanding of human–environment dynamics prior to and during periods of sea level change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:45:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ddb51bfd9bb43448511efb76ebf954d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-9408 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:45:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ddb51bfd9bb43448511efb76ebf954d2023-11-16T20:48:02ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082023-01-016292894510.3390/heritage6020051Evaluating the Archaeological Efficacy of Bathymetric LiDAR across Oceanographic Contexts: A Case Study from Apalachee Bay, FloridaJessica W. Cook Hale0Dylan S. Davis1Matthew C. Sanger2Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USAColumbia Climate School, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025, USANational Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USAThis study presents preliminary results from recent bathymetric LiDAR-guided surveys of submerged archaeological landscapes in the Apalachee Bay off the coast of Florida. We show how bathymetric LiDAR can re-identify previously recorded archaeological sites and identify new cultural deposits at shallow depths and help aid SCUBA surveys of submerged environments. While most prior archaeological applications of bathymetric LiDAR have focused on shipwrecks and historic era sites, our case study demonstrates that bathymetric LiDAR is capable of detecting Holocene and Pleistocene era archaeological sites as well. Detecting and eventually characterizing these ancient deposits will greatly expand our understanding of settlement trends when sea levels were lower and may provide insights into how some of the earliest coastal populations adapted to this novel and changing environment. Our SCUBA surveys also elucidate the impact of local environmental conditions of the applicability of deploying bathymetric LiDAR; specifically, eel grass cover does not hinder LiDAR capabilities, while high rates of sedimentation greatly reduce success in identifying archaeological deposits. Overall, our results show promise in the future of applying remote sensing to study shallow submerged archaeological landscapes, which can help improve our understanding of human–environment dynamics prior to and during periods of sea level change.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/2/51bathymetric LiDARFloridashell middensunderwater archaeologysubmerged landscapessea level rise |
| spellingShingle | Jessica W. Cook Hale Dylan S. Davis Matthew C. Sanger Evaluating the Archaeological Efficacy of Bathymetric LiDAR across Oceanographic Contexts: A Case Study from Apalachee Bay, Florida Heritage bathymetric LiDAR Florida shell middens underwater archaeology submerged landscapes sea level rise |
| title | Evaluating the Archaeological Efficacy of Bathymetric LiDAR across Oceanographic Contexts: A Case Study from Apalachee Bay, Florida |
| title_full | Evaluating the Archaeological Efficacy of Bathymetric LiDAR across Oceanographic Contexts: A Case Study from Apalachee Bay, Florida |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Archaeological Efficacy of Bathymetric LiDAR across Oceanographic Contexts: A Case Study from Apalachee Bay, Florida |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Archaeological Efficacy of Bathymetric LiDAR across Oceanographic Contexts: A Case Study from Apalachee Bay, Florida |
| title_short | Evaluating the Archaeological Efficacy of Bathymetric LiDAR across Oceanographic Contexts: A Case Study from Apalachee Bay, Florida |
| title_sort | evaluating the archaeological efficacy of bathymetric lidar across oceanographic contexts a case study from apalachee bay florida |
| topic | bathymetric LiDAR Florida shell middens underwater archaeology submerged landscapes sea level rise |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/2/51 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jessicawcookhale evaluatingthearchaeologicalefficacyofbathymetriclidaracrossoceanographiccontextsacasestudyfromapalacheebayflorida AT dylansdavis evaluatingthearchaeologicalefficacyofbathymetriclidaracrossoceanographiccontextsacasestudyfromapalacheebayflorida AT matthewcsanger evaluatingthearchaeologicalefficacyofbathymetriclidaracrossoceanographiccontextsacasestudyfromapalacheebayflorida |