Ikonos-2 multispectral satellite imagery to the study of archaeological landscapes: An integrated multi-sensor approach in combination with “traditional” methods

The experience of the Area of Medieval Archaeology at University of Siena on Ikonos-2 multispectral data has been developed in two substantial sample areas. In recent years both areas have been subject to multi-temporal analysis of vertical aerial photographs, to intensive field and aerial surveys. They therefore present an excellent opportunity for testing the potential of multistage remote sensing in combination with “traditional” methodologies for landscape analysis. In the absence of past experiences with Ikonos imagery we have used several processing routines whose effectiveness and response is well known. The results have been integrated in the archaeological GIS system where we collected most of the available data of the area: technical, thematic, historical maps, archaeological survey data, geological research, remote sensed data (vertical and oblique photography, Landsat TM), etc. The first results are definitely encouraging. Particularly, numerous traces indicated do not result visible in vertical and oblique aerial photographs.