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Aerial reconnaissance, Osječko-baranjska County in 2015

Bartul Šiljeg ; Institute of Archaeology, Zagreb, Croatia
Hrvoje Kalafatić orcid.org/0000-0003-2286-7775 ; Institute of Archaeology, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

This is the presentation of aerial survey results focused on the Drava, Danube and Sava Rivers in Eastern Croatia, a part of Croatia characterised by fertile land divided into large agricultural plots ideal for aerial survey of archaeological features. The basis of the research was a comparative image study of 4 cyclic photogrammetric surveys made by Republic of Croatia State Geodetic Administration from 1997 to 2014. Satellite imagery and Internet geographic services, such as Google Earth, Bing maps, Croatian Internet geodetic and agricultural map services, were also extensively used in this research. Spatial analysis of aerial images was combined with Internet historical map and image. A valuable resource is also the digitalized vertical images originated before 1968, available since 2015 (Produced by Military Geographical Institute, Belgrade).
Sites were selected according to the results of the above mentioned analysis, to conduct a series of aircraft photographic surveys from 2013 to 2015. UAVs have been used since 2015 to record target areas and sites, which significantly increased the number of newly discovered sites. The satellite imagery and aerial photography data were compared with results of the systematic field survey. Consequently, more than 150 archaeological sites were identified throughout the area. The combination of all described methods provided a completely new insight on land occupation, settlement patterns and subsistence strategy in prehistoric, Roman and medieval period. Already known sites could be viewed more accurately for the first time, in their entirety and within their landscape. The majority of discovered sites can be attributed to Neolithic Sopot culture from the 5th millennium BC and to the late Medieval period. An interesting observed phenomenon is the reoccupation of Neolithic circle enclosures in the late medieval period. Besides new discoveries, it has to be emphasised that survey has shown a surprisingly dynamic change of the landscape from the 18th century until today that is important both for cultural heritage management and for landscape development strategies.

Keywords

eastern Slavonia; aerial archaeology; field survey; enclosures

Hrčak ID:

167349

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/167349

Publication date:

7.10.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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