The use of satellite imagery and digital image processing in landscape archaeology. A case study from the island of Mallorca,Spain

The aim of this research was to assess the potential use of satellite imagery and digital image processing for the detection and surveying of ancient land-use patterns. The rural land-use patterns in the southeastern region of Mallorca (Spain) were investigated in order to locate traces of the Roman field-division system. A satellite scene was analyzed using ground control for field observations to determine the rural patterns observed in the contemporary landscape and to identify the possible remains of centuriated systems. Digital image processing involved image rectification, georeferencing, and spatial enhancement using high-pass and directional filtering. While no incontrovertible evidence of centuriation was located, satellite data proved to be of use in surveying medium-scale rural patterns. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.