Spectral and GIS analysis for quarry location in ancient Messene, Greece

In: Posluschny, A. and Lambers, K. and Herzog, I. (Hrsgg.): Layers of Perception. Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA), Berlin, 2.-6. April, 2007 (Koll. Vor- u. Frühgesch. 10). Bonn 2008, pp. 164-170.

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Abstract

The goal of this project was to locate previously unrecorded ancient quarries in the Greek Peleponnese, near Ancient Messene, during the summer of 2006 with limited time and resources. Through the aid of GIS techniques, the aim was to discover, document and study these quarries in a large and topographically diverse area. The source of stone for the nearby ancient temples and towns is pertinent to the analysis of building construction, repair, and sculpture in the area. The use of ERDAS Imagine allowed the classification of a Landsat satellite image in order to analyze ground coverage information and probable quarry site locations. Known quarry sites and topographic information were incorporated into the analysis in order to aid in the hypothesis of proposed locations using an Area of Interest and Alarm Mask. Following GIS analysis, ground truthing took place to evaluate known quarries and proposed quarry locations, resulting in successful findings in several areas.