LISTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES WITH A TOTAL STATION TACHOMETER. DATA PROCESSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SURVEYED SITES
LISTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES WITH A TOTAL STATION TACHOMETER. DATA PROCESSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SURVEYED SITES

Summary/Abstract: A geodetic survey and mapping of three sites in the vicinity of modern Karima in Sudan was carried out as part of the 2006 spring archaeological fieldwork of the Early Makuria Research Project (MtoM). The survey covered topographical measurements of the fortifications at Merowe Sheriq and the sites in the immediate vicinity of the fortress, as well as of a tumulus cemetery at Tanqasi. At el-Zuma, an existing plan of the tumulus cemetery at the site, prepared in 2004, was now supplemented with contour measurements. Digital maps were prepared subsequently for all three sites. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the usefulness of the planimetric digital method, hence the following remarks on the method and on the theory behind a broader application of digital maps in archaeological research. Geodetic site surveying with total station equipment and the resultant digital mapping can be done directly on the site, providing that the essential input for data processing is arranged and a multi-layer digital model of a given archaeological site is developed.

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