Noninvasive archaeological site characterization: case studies from Fort Ellice 1 and 2, Canada

Abstract

With the growing availability of remotely sensed aerial data, noninvasive archaeological prospection and characterization have become increasingly viable. While such approaches are comparatively well-developed at sites with prominent remnant structures, their utility is less clear when surface and subsurface features are only subtly indicated. This case study addresses the utility of aerial remote sensing using two western Canadian fur trade posts with only modest surface evidence. We consider public domain imagery at diverse resolutions and compare it with output from unmanned aerial vehicles, and also the integration of such data with archival imagery to aid in interpretation of archaeological features.

Keywords

• noninvasive archaeology
• aerial remote sensing
• archival imagery
• geographic information systems
• Canadian Fur Trade