Archaeological – Geo-archaeological Research in the DDCR
Project Summary
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi have the interest to develop an archaeological and geoarchaeological research at the DDCR broader area. The department of Archaeology and History of Art has a great experience in archaeological prospection in archaeological sites in UAE (Masafi, Sarouk Al Hadid, etc.) as also abroad - in Lebanon (Baalbek, Bisri, Chhim, etc.), Syria (Palmyra, Apamea), Greece (Delos) as well as in methods and technics related to photogrammetry and 3D scanning of artefacts and buildings. The Department of Geography and Planning has a great experience in geoarchaeological research till 2003 in Southern Europe (Balkan peninsula, Greece, Cyprus, France etc.), in Middle east (Egypt, Lebanon, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrein) as in the UAE (Sarouk al Hadid, Masafi, Marawah, Ras Ghumais etc.) as well as in methods and technics related to the GIS, remote sensing and multi proxy analysis of the sediments and landforms.
The aim of this research proposal is the systematic archaeological field investigation in selected areas of DDCR, collection archaeological objects, classification of archaeological findings, and age determination, their localization by GPS, and their insertion in GIS database for evaluation and storage. Geomorphological mapping using remote sensing technics and fieldwork including sediments sampling for multiproxy analysis and dating.
The results of archaeological analysis and from the geomorphological and remote sensing analysis with the sediments multi proxy investigation can provide to us information’s about the potential existence of an archaeological site in the DDCR protected area.
Research Objectives
- Systematic surface Archaeological investigations using GPS and GIS.
- Classification and age determination of the archaeological findings. Possibility to conduct virtual analyze of 3D objects (non-invasive approach).
- Geomorphological mapping and spatial distribution of the archaeological findings.
Methodology
Systematic surface survey of the proposed area at the map. Four to five bachelor students of the department of Archaeology and History of Art of SUAD under the supervision of the Professor Dr. Ingrid Perisse Valero and another professor or archaeologist from Sorbonne University (name TBC) will do field investigations for three weeks in total on the area of interest.
Archaeological findings and artifacts field collection, localization by portal GPS and classification, digitalization of chosen artefact for 3D models. All the field data will be stored and processed in GIS database.
A report preparation of the findings and the localization of the artifacts and they propose the next steps of the archaeological investigations.
At the same time, one student, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Kosmas Pavlopoulos and Dr. Haifa Ben Romdhane, will map the area of interest, the landforms, the sediments and they describe the geomorphological processes of the area. This research survey needs 2 weeks in total.
During the geomorphological/geological research a radar satellite data will be analyzed and process (INSAR, SAR, Sentinel, ALOS-pulsar2) to detect the substratum rocky paleo relief below the dune deposition. Dr. Haifa ben Romdhane and Prof. Kosmas Pavlopoulos will be responsible for this stage and deliverables.
Expected Outcomes
- Maps with the details position of the archaeological findings, including the written report of the archaeological findings classification report.
- Geomorphological map of the broader area of research. Analysis of the satellite images and interpretation. Report including the geomorphological and remote sensing results.
