Observatory validation of Neolithic tells (“Magoules”) in the Thessalian plain, central Greece, using hyperspectral spectroradiometric data

Athos Agapiou, Diofantos G. Hadjimitsis, Dimitrios Alexakis & Apostolos Sarris Journal of Archaeological Science 39:5 (May 2012): 1499-1512.

Abstract

This paper presents the results obtained from field spectroradiometric campaigns over Neolithic tells (“magoules”) located at the Thessalian region in Greece. In each one of the four archaeological sites selected, three sections were carried out using the GER 1500 handheld spectroradiometer. Spectral profiles of the sections and several vegetation indices such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices (NDVI) and Simple Ratio (SR) have been examined in this study. This is one of the first times that ground hyperspectral data are evaluated in such context of archaeological research for the spectral characterization of archaeological features. As it was found, ground spectroradiometric measurements can be efficiently used in order to support and validate satellite imagery results for the detection of archaeological sites.