Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2012

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Anthropology and Museum Studies

Committee Chair

Dr. Robert Hickey, Department of Geography

Second Committee Member

Dr. Ian Buvit, Department of Anthropology

Third Committee Member

Dr. Audrey D. Huerta, Director Science Honors Research Program

Abstract

In this study, satellite image analysis was applied to archeological sites at Lake Matcharak in the Brooks Range of Alaska. The Goal was to test whether or not satellite remote sensing, which has been successful in locating large-size archeological features, could be applied to small-size prehistoric features found in Arctic Alaska. Using 1-m resolution IKONOS and 30-m resolution ASTER DEM data, vegetation indices (NDVI and tasseled cap) and slope were generated and stacked into one image. Supervised and unsupervised classifications were then applied to the resulting image to look for spectral/slope characteristics that were unique to known site locations at the lake. It was found that dense willow growth is loosely associated with the known site locations at Lake Matcharak, and it can be identified by its unique spectral signature. The methods described here suggest potential avenues of predictive modeling for locating high probability areas of archaeological materials, which can be incorporated into future field surveys in the Brooks Range.

Comments

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