Remote Sensing for Archaeology AARG/EAC/ISAP working party

Report 2012-13 for the annual meeting of the EAC, 21 March 2013, Saranda-Butrint, Albania

The WP continues to focus on production of guidelines, firstly for geophysical survey through ISAP, and secondly through encouraging the ArcLand project in this area.

1. EAC Guidelines for Geophysics

At a meeting of Dave Cowley, Chris Gaffney and Armin Schmidt on 10 January 2013 it was decided to base the guidelines on the English Heritage ones (David et al. 2008), but to amend them considerably to accommodate pan-European perspectives. To this effect a European editorial team of Jörg Fassbinder, Chris Gaffney, Paul Linford, Apostolos Sarris and Armin Schmidt has compiled the necessary amendments and Armin Schmidt is now taking overall responsibility for progressing the following next steps:

  • first draft produced, incorporating comments from the editorial team, keeping technical details to a minimum (instead refer to published texts) with regional/national sections in appendices.
  • maintain emphasis on overall motto of the guidelines: “Questions to ask and points to consider” - not prescription of methodology. This is necessary to avoid the danger of the ‘lowest common denominator’ on which people could agree. Approximate delivery is early May.
  • consultation with the editorial team, selected additional reviewers and EAC Board to enhance the European perspectives.
  • consensus draft ready for the 10th International Conference on Archaeological Prospection, Vienna, 29 May.
  • release of this consensus draft to ‘the community’ thereafter, but only make subsequent changes if major flaws are discovered. This restrictive editorial policy has to be stressed when the consensus draft is released to avoid disappointment when comments are not fully implemented.
  • final release of EAC guidelines in early July.

David, A., N. Linford & P. Linford 2008. Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation (2nd edn). Swindon: English Heritage.

2. ArcLand

Within the framework of the multi-partner EU funded ArcLand project ( there is a collective action to provide technical guidance and best practice as a way of improving standards by information-sharing. Dave Cowley will maintain communication with ArcLand to ensure there is no duplication of effort and that all can benefit from shared agendas. At present there is a widespread consultation within ArcLand, coordinated by Dr Ziga Kokalj (Slovenia), to identify the priorities for guidelines.

Production of guidelines for lidar visualisation by Dr Kokalj are in progress, and a working group to examine the role of remote sensing and desk-based assessment in providing mitigation strategies in development contexts has been proposed by Professor Stefano Campana. Active involvement by EAC members is welcomed, and those with an interest should contact Dave Cowley in the first instance.

Dave Cowley () and Chris Gaffney ()

19 March 2013