In archaeology, which sphere of application is most benefited by the use of GIS and Remote Sensing technologies?
GIS/RS technologies have been applied with greatest success to regional-scale archaeological survey, which is the systematic search for archaeological sites on the landscape. Remotely sensed data are often used as guides to survey, and GIS is most frequently used as a data management and analysis tool to examine the spatial patterning of archaeological sites in relationship to natural features and inferred social and political landscapes. RS data is also used as a discovery and exploration tool. For example, radar imaging, the Landsat Thematic Mapper, and SPOT satellite images were all used in the search for the ancient city of Ubar, once a thriving trade center in the southern Arabian peninsula that is now buried below deep sand dunes. Although the city itself was not discovered, the combined images did reveal caravan routes which converged at a central location. Subsequent excavation discovered the city. Similar data have been used to find sites and agricultural features of the ancie
