Our latest article in Archaeological Prospection is reshaping our understanding of ancient human settlements by revisiting legacy survey data from the Mediterranean region. Archaeological exploration in the region has long relied on surface surveys, some of which were only recorded manually. Now, through innovative computational methods, researchers are breathing new life into these archives.
In the Grevena region of Greece, a previous extensive survey indicated a rich archaeological record that remained largely unpublished and underexplored. Through a meticulous multi-source, GIS-structured workflow, our team systematically reevaluated this data, revealing overlooked Palaeolithic finds and biases in site distribution. Geomorphological analysis highlighted discrepancies in elevation-based site densities, while remote-sensing techniques unveiled architectural remains previously unseen.
Notably, new surveys around Ayios Georgios pinpointed several previously unknown sites, showcasing the complexity of the region’s archaeological landscape.
Figure shows extensive survey in the proximity of Ayios Georgios. Red dots show Grevena Project sites and green dots new sites discovered during groundtruthing.
This innovative approach not only highlights the power of digital tools in archaeology but also promises to deepen our comprehension of ancient civilizations and their relationship with the environment.
Full reference
Apostolou, G., Venieri, K., Mayoral, A., Dimaki, S., Garcia-Molsosa, A., Georgiadis, M., & Orengo, H. A.(2024). Integrating legacy survey data into GIS-based analysis: The rediscovery of the archaeological landscapes in Grevena (Western Macedonia, Greece). Archaeological Prospection, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/arp.1926
Funding information
This study was funded by the Doctoral Researcher Scholarship (FI) of the Catalan Government R&D Agency Competitive Call for the Recruitment of New Research Staff (AGAUR) (2020 FI_B 01013) and fieldwork was supported by the A. S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (Scholarship ID: FZS004-1/2022-2023) and A. G. Leventis Foundation (2020_17529) doctoral scholarships.
