Object-Based Image Analysis of Ground-Penetrating Radar Data for Archaic Hearths
Object-based image analysis (OBIA) has been increasingly used to identify terrain features of archaeological sites, but only recently to extract subsurface archaeological features from geophysical data. In this study, we use a semi-automated OBIA to identify Archaic (8000–1000 BC) hearths from Groun...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/16/2539 |
| _version_ | 1797559802314883072 |
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| author | Reagan L. Cornett Eileen G. Ernenwein |
| author_facet | Reagan L. Cornett Eileen G. Ernenwein |
| author_sort | Reagan L. Cornett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Object-based image analysis (OBIA) has been increasingly used to identify terrain features of archaeological sites, but only recently to extract subsurface archaeological features from geophysical data. In this study, we use a semi-automated OBIA to identify Archaic (8000–1000 BC) hearths from Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) data collected at David Crockett Birthplace State Park in eastern Tennessee in the southeastern United States. The data were preprocessed using <i>GPR-SLICE</i>, <i>Surfer,</i> and <i>Archaeofusion</i> software, and amplitude depth slices were selected that contained anomalies ranging from 0.80 to 1.20 m below surface (BS). Next, the data were segmented within <i>ESRI ArcMap</i> GIS software using a global threshold and, after vectorization, classified using four attributes: area, perimeter, length-to-width ratio, and Circularity Index. The user-defined parameters were based on an excavated Archaic circular hearth found at a depth greater than one meter, which consisted of fire-cracked rock and had a diameter greater than one meter. These observations were in agreement with previous excavations of hearths at the site. Features that had a high probability of being Archaic hearths were further delineated by human interpretation from radargrams and then ground-truthed by auger testing. The semi-automated OBIA successfully predicted 15 probable Archaic hearths at depths ranging from 0.85 to 1.20 m BS. Observable spatial clustering of hearths may indicate episodes of seasonal occupation by small mobile groups during the Archaic Period. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:50:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f78036ca339e47b6885b2a3fb0a2e6b7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:50:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-f78036ca339e47b6885b2a3fb0a2e6b72023-11-20T09:23:38ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922020-08-011216253910.3390/rs12162539Object-Based Image Analysis of Ground-Penetrating Radar Data for Archaic HearthsReagan L. Cornett0Eileen G. Ernenwein1Department of Geosciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USADepartment of Geosciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USAObject-based image analysis (OBIA) has been increasingly used to identify terrain features of archaeological sites, but only recently to extract subsurface archaeological features from geophysical data. In this study, we use a semi-automated OBIA to identify Archaic (8000–1000 BC) hearths from Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) data collected at David Crockett Birthplace State Park in eastern Tennessee in the southeastern United States. The data were preprocessed using <i>GPR-SLICE</i>, <i>Surfer,</i> and <i>Archaeofusion</i> software, and amplitude depth slices were selected that contained anomalies ranging from 0.80 to 1.20 m below surface (BS). Next, the data were segmented within <i>ESRI ArcMap</i> GIS software using a global threshold and, after vectorization, classified using four attributes: area, perimeter, length-to-width ratio, and Circularity Index. The user-defined parameters were based on an excavated Archaic circular hearth found at a depth greater than one meter, which consisted of fire-cracked rock and had a diameter greater than one meter. These observations were in agreement with previous excavations of hearths at the site. Features that had a high probability of being Archaic hearths were further delineated by human interpretation from radargrams and then ground-truthed by auger testing. The semi-automated OBIA successfully predicted 15 probable Archaic hearths at depths ranging from 0.85 to 1.20 m BS. Observable spatial clustering of hearths may indicate episodes of seasonal occupation by small mobile groups during the Archaic Period.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/16/2539archaeologyarcheological prospectionnear-surface geophysicsobject-based image analysisremote sensing |
| spellingShingle | Reagan L. Cornett Eileen G. Ernenwein Object-Based Image Analysis of Ground-Penetrating Radar Data for Archaic Hearths Remote Sensing archaeology archeological prospection near-surface geophysics object-based image analysis remote sensing |
| title | Object-Based Image Analysis of Ground-Penetrating Radar Data for Archaic Hearths |
| title_full | Object-Based Image Analysis of Ground-Penetrating Radar Data for Archaic Hearths |
| title_fullStr | Object-Based Image Analysis of Ground-Penetrating Radar Data for Archaic Hearths |
| title_full_unstemmed | Object-Based Image Analysis of Ground-Penetrating Radar Data for Archaic Hearths |
| title_short | Object-Based Image Analysis of Ground-Penetrating Radar Data for Archaic Hearths |
| title_sort | object based image analysis of ground penetrating radar data for archaic hearths |
| topic | archaeology archeological prospection near-surface geophysics object-based image analysis remote sensing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/16/2539 |
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