Archaeological Applications of Low‐Cost Integrated Sidescan Sonar/Single‐Beam Echosounder Systems in Irish Inland Waterways

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12429780
AutoresKieran Westley (0000-0002-0863-6762, Coastal and Offshore Archaeological Research Services University of Southampton SO14 3ZH Southampton UK, autor correspondente), Rory Mcneary (Marine and Fisheries Division Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs BT7 2JA Belfast Northern Ireland UK)
Ano2016
Volume24
Fascículo1
Páginas37-57
Data de publicação2016-09-30
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoArchaeological Prospection (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1075-2196 • E-ISSN: 1099-0763
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/arp.1551
OpenAlexW2587868553
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas3
Referências citadas42

Inland waterways, such as rivers and lakes have been foci of human settlement and use for millennia. However, underwater archaeological prospection or survey in these environments is often hindered by poor or no‐visibility conditions. While this can be overcome using a range of well‐established geophysical techniques, their application in inland waterways seems comparatively less common than in offshore environments. Possible reasons include the logistical challenges of surveying shallow confined, often inaccessible and uncharted waters coupled with a wider lack of awareness of the submerged archaeological potential of inland waterways. This paper demonstrates one method by which the logistical challenge can be circumvented, specifically the use of low‐cost acoustic systems which combine a single‐beam echo sounder and sidescan sonar. These systems have appeared within the last decade and are smaller and cheaper than their survey‐grade counterparts. Although developed for the sport fishing community, as shown here, they can also be used for archaeological purposes. Their effectiveness for archaeological prospection is illustrated via three case studies from lacustrine and riverine settings in Northern Ireland and by reference to object detection and bathymetric mapping. The data presented indicate that the low‐cost systems are capable of collecting data that is sufficient for archaeological purposes but they are best suited to shallow confined waters where their disadvantages (limited range and depth of operation, reduced image quality) are minimized. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Archaeology · Bathymetry · Echo sounding · Geography · Harbour · Prospection · Range (aeronautics · Remote sensing · Scope (computer science · Sonar · Submarine pipeline · Underwater · Visibility · Waves and shallow water · Computer Science · Engineering · Marine animal studies overview · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology · Underwater Acoustics Research · Geology · Oceanography

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