Advances in Geosciences www.adv-geosci.net 1680-7340 1680-7359 19 Geophysical monitoring of the near-surface by electromagnetic and other geophysical methods 2008 10.5194/adgeo-19-75-2008 http://www.adv-geosci.net/19/75/2008/ http://www.adv-geosci.net/19/75/2008/adgeo-19-75-2008.html http://www.adv-geosci.net/19/75/2008/adgeo-19-75-2008.pdf 75 82 2008-11-14 Integrated remote sensing techniques for the detection of buried archaeological adobe structures: preliminary results in Cahuachi (Peru) N. Masini n.masini@ibam.cnr.it E. Rizzo R. Lasaponara G. Orefici CNR-IBAM (Istituto per i Beni Archeologici e Monumentali), C.da S. Loja 85050 Tito Scalo (PZ), Italy CNR-IMAA (Istituto di Metodologie di Analisi Ambientale), C.da S. Loja 85050 Tito Scalo (PZ), Italy Centro de Estudios Arqueológicos Precolombinos (CEAP), Nasca, Peru This paper is focused on the jointly use of satellite Quickbird (QB) images and Ground Probing Radar (GPR) for assessing their capability in the detection of archaeological adobe structures (sun-dried earth material). Such detection is particularly complex. due to the low contrast generally existing between the archaeological features and the background. Two significant test areas were investigated in the Ceremonial Centre of Cahuachi (in the Nasca territory, Southern Peru) dating back to 6th century BC to 4th century AD. <br><br> Our results showed that both satellite and GPR data provided valuable indications for unearthing precious ancient remains. Our preliminary analyses pointed out that the integrated use of non destructive remote sensing techniques has high potentiality for its important scientific implications and for its significant contributions to cultural resource management. Chianese, D., D'Emilio, M., Di Salvia, S., Lapenna, V., Ragosta, M., and Rizzo, E.: Magnetic Mapping, Ground Penetrating Radar Surveys and Magnetic Susceptibility Measurements for the Study of the Archaeological Site of Serra di Vaglio (Southern Italy), J. Archaeol. Sci., 31, 633–643, 2004. Kvamme, K., Ernenwein, E., Hargrave, M., Sever, T., Harmon, D., and Limp, F.: New Approaches to the Use and Integration of Multi-Sensor Remote Sensing for Historic Resource. Identification and Evaluation, Report of SERDP Project, SI-1263, 2006. Lasaponara, R. and Masini, N.: Performance evaluation of data fusion algorithms for the detection of archaeological features by using satellite QuickBird data, in: Space to place, edited by: Campana, S. and Forte, M., Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Remote Sensing in Archaeology (Rome, 4–7~December~2006), BAR International Series, 13–20, 2006. Lasaponara, R. and Masini, N.: On the potential of Quickbird data for archaeological prospection, Int. J. Remot. Sens., 27(15–16), 3607–3614, 2006. Linford, N.: The application of geophysical methods to archaeological prospection, Report of Progress in Physics, 69, 2205–2257, 2006. Lascano, E., Osella, A., De La Vega, M., Buscaglia, S., Senatore, X., and Lanata, J. L.: Geophysical prospection at Floridablanca archaeological site, San Julian Bay, Argentina, Archaeological Prospection, 10(3), 175–192, 2003. Montoya, M., Grac\`&#x0131;a, W., and Caidas, J.: Geolog\`&#x0131;a de los Quadrangulos de Lomitas, Palpa, Nasca y Puquio, INGGEMET (Istituto Geologico Minero y Metallurgico), Lima, 1994. Orefici, G.: Nasca, Archeologia per una ricostruzione storica, Jaca Book, 1992. Orefici, G.: Nasca, Arte e società del popolo dei geoglifi, Jaca Book, Milano, 1993. Rizzo, E., Chianese, D., and Lapenna, V.: Integration of magnetometric, gpr and geoelectric measurements applied to the archaeological site of Viggiano (Southern Italy, Agri Valley- Basilicata), Near Surface Geophysics, 3, 13–19, 2005. Sandmeier, K. J.: Reflexw 2.1 Manual. Sandmeier Software: Zipser Strabe 1, 76227 Karlsruhe, Germany, 2000. Silverman, H.: Cahuachi in the Ancient Nasca World, University Of Iowa Press, 1993. Zhang, Y.: Understanding Image Fusion, Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 70, 657–661, 2004.