| Archaeological surveying is a specialized type of | | | | setting foot on the actual terrain. In some cases, |
| land surveying conducted to accurately report the | | | | specialized equipment can map not only the |
| finds made in an archeological site or to show the | | | | above-ground artifacts (at the current stage of |
| relationship of the archaeological site to the | | | | excavation) but also possible archaeological |
| landscape. This survey is generally undertaken at | | | | features buried underground. In the same way as |
| the request of archeologists or government | | | | above-ground surveys are constructed, the |
| agencies, and requires the use of GIS, GPS, aerial | | | | readings taken from the equipment become a |
| photography, and other methods. In most cases, | | | | dataset, which can then be rendered as a visible |
| these surveys are done as remotely as possible | | | | map of the area. |
| to avoid disturbing the archaeological site. | | | | The result of an archaeological survey is a |
| While often undertaken at the conclusion of the | | | | high-resolution image of the terrain. This display |
| excavation, one important use of archaeological | | | | can take several forms depending on the intended |
| land surveying comes before any of the area has | | | | purpose of the survey. It may be |
| been excavated. Land surveying methods can be | | | | two-dimensional, recording the location of the site |
| used to find the sites prior to excavation. Previous | | | | and surrounding terrain. It may be |
| uses of the land can leave physical marks on the | | | | three-dimensional, providing additional information |
| modern landscape, such as raised ridges where | | | | about the layout of the archaeological site, such |
| the walls of buildings once stood. In many cases, | | | | as the height of any walls uncovered. In some |
| these features cannot be noticed when on the | | | | cases, this data can be used to create a virtual |
| ground. Land surveying methods, however, can | | | | 'fly through,' or a 3D image that can be |
| create maps which show them from an aerial | | | | manipulated to show the view from various |
| vantage point showing elevation changes, which | | | | points. |
| can make such features clear. This map can then | | | | The results of an archaeological survey conducted |
| be turned into a grid which guides the | | | | after the area has been excavated become a |
| archaeological excavation of the site. | | | | record of the layout that can be compared to |
| The aim of archaeological land surveying is to be | | | | later surveys to determine the stability of the |
| as non-intrusive as possible. Unlike many land | | | | archaeological site and record any damage now |
| surveys, it may not be possible for the surveyor | | | | that the site has been excavated. This map can |
| to traverse the entire landscape on foot because | | | | also be used as an all-encompassing view of the |
| of the sensitive nature of the archaeological finds. | | | | structures found by an archaeological excavation, |
| The type of survey undertaken on archaeological | | | | providing the basis for research and other |
| sites is often known as a 'geophysical survey,' and | | | | activities. In some cases, archaeological land |
| it may be conducted with LiDAR or other | | | | surveys may also be required as evidence for the |
| high-tech methods of surveying the area without | | | | listing of such sites on registers of historic places. |