The CORONA Atlas Project
CORONA is the codename for the United States’ first photographic spy satellite mission, in operation from 1960-1972, which collected high resolution imagery over much of the earth. CORONA preserves a picture of the landscape prior to the dramatic land use changes of recent decades and, as the only source for historic, global-scale imagery, it is unique resource for researchers and scientists studying environmental change, agriculture, geomorphology, archaeology and other fields. The CORONA Atlas Project has developed techniques to efficiently process CORONA imagery and produce accurate, ortho-rectified digital map products. We host a map-viewer where orthorectified CORONA imagery can be viewed and downloaded at no cost: http://corona.cast.uark.edu
Collaborators: Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST), University of Arkansas
Selected Publications:
Casana, J. 2020. Global-scale archaeological prospection using CORONA satellite imagery: Automated, crowd-sourced, and expert-led approaches. Journal of Field Archaeology 45(sup1): S89-S100.
Casana, J, and Cothren, J. 2013. The CORONA atlas project: Orthorectification of CORONA satellite imagery and regional-scale archaeological exploration in the Near East. In: Mapping Archaeological Landscapes from Space. Springer Briefs in Archaeology, vol 5, 33-43. Springer, New York, NY.
Casana, J, and Cothren, J. 2008. Stereo analysis, DEM extraction and orthorectification of CORONA satellite imagery: Archaeological applications from the Near East. Antiquity 82:732-49.
Digging Dartmouth
Community members and students enrolled in Archaeological Field Methods (ANTH 50.47) explore the history of Dartmouth and colonial New England through archaeological investigations on campus. We use a suite of remote sensing technologies and historical documents to locate in-tact subsurface remains. Additionally, we conducted excavations at the Ripley/Choate House site on Baker Lawn (Spring 2019) and the Susan Brown House site next to Parkhurst Hall (Spring 2022). Both excavations unearthed a wide range of artifacts revealing forgotten stories of early College life, while the course provides students with valuable experience in archaeological field and lab methods, and engages the community in Dartmouth’s history.
Selected Publications:
Gildner, T.E., and Casana, J. 2021. Intestinal parasitic infection within a wealthy nineteenth century household from rural New England: Evidence from Dartmouth College, New Hampshire. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 37.
Archaeological Prospection using Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) Imagery
The short-wave infrared (SWIR) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (1100-2500 nm) is often used in earth sciences, geology, and agricultural monitoring, as these wavelengths are well suited to distinguishing different types of minerals and soils, as well as soil moisture and plant health. The SPARCL team is investigating ways to leverage spectral differences in anthropogenic materials in the SWIR portion of the spectrum at multiple scales. At the landscape scale, we are evaluating the effectiveness of high resolution SWIR satellite imagery from the WorldView-2 satellite to prospect for archaeological sites. At the site scale, we are exploring the use of a UAV-mounted SWIR sensor (Resonon’s Pika-IRL+) for artifact detection and mapping. These approaches offer the potential for more effective and accurate site and artifact detection.
Selected Publications:
Casana, J. and Ferwerda, C. 2023. Archaeological prospection using WorldView‐3 short‐wave infrared (SWIR) satellite imagery: Case studies from the Fertile Crescent. Archaeological Prospection 30:327–340.
The Sirwan (Upper Diayla) Project
From 2012-2020, Prof. Casana co-directed archaeological landscape investigations in the Sirwan (Upper Diyala) River Valley in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The project sought to explore highland-lowland relationships during many of the important moments in human history, including the spread of domesticated agriculture, the emergence of early complex societies, and the rise and spread of the first empires. The SRP undertook the first systematic regional survey in this 4000km2 study area, as well as excavations at several key sites including the second millennium BCE city of Khani Masi. As part of the SRP, SPARCL members have deployed a variety of traditional and emerging digital technologies including satellite remote sensing, ground-based geophysics, multi-sensor drone surveys, and photogrammetric modeling of sites and excavations.
Selected Publications:
Laugier, E.J., Casana, J., and Cabanes, D. 2022. Phytolith evidence for the pastoral origins of multi-cropping in Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq). Scientific Reports 12(1): 60.
Laugier, E.J., and Casana, J. 2021. Integrating Satellite, UAV, and Ground-Based Remote Sensing in Archaeology: An Exploration of Pre-Modern Land Use in Northeastern Iraq. Remote Sensing 13(24): 5119.
Casana, J. and Glatz, C. 2017. The land behind the land behind Baghdad: Archaeological landscapes of the Upper Diyala (Sirwan) River Valley. Iraq 79: 47-69.
Glatz, C. and Casana, J. 2016. Of highland-lowland borderlands: Local societies and foreign power in the Zagros-Mesopotamian interface. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 44: 127-147.
Picuris Pueblo, New Mexico
Working with the Picuris Collaborative Archaeological Project, the SPARCL team has been undertaking archaeological remote sensing based investigations at the Picuris Pueblo in northern New Mexico. The pueblo has a very long history of continuous occupation dating back more than 1000 years, and the forests surrounding the modern settlement are replete with the remains of an expansive farming system that once supported a large population at the site. Our work using drone-based lidar, thermal, and hyperspectral imaging alongside terrestrial geophysical survey has helped to reveal some of the rich archaeological landscape at this important site.
SPARC Collaborators: Michael Adler (Southern Methodist University); Severin Fowles (Barnard College); Lindsay Montgomery (University of Toronto); Richard Mermejo (Picuris Pueblo)
Selected Publications:
Casana, J., Fowles, S., Montgomery, L.M., Mermejo, R., Ferwerda, C., Hill, A.C., and Adler, M. 2023. Multi-sensor drone survey of ancestral agricultural landscapes at Picuris Pueblo, New Mexico. Journal of Archaeological Science 157: 105837.
Kohala Fields, Hawai'i
Upland landscapes of the Big Island of Hawai’i preserve a rich archaeological landscape comprised of ancient agricultural fields, settlements, and ritual sites, particularly in the area known as Kohala. Working with collaborators from multiple institutions, the SPARCL team has conducted several field seasons of drone-based remote sensing using lidar, thermography, and NIR multispectral imaging. Results document architectural remains at several major archaeological sites and contribute to our understanding of agricultural practices and settlement patterns in the region.
SPARC Collaborators: Michael Graves and Katherine Peck (University of New Mexico); Mark McCoy (Flordia State University), Thegn N. Ladefoged (University of Auckland), and Adam M. Johnson (National Park Service)
Selected Publications:
McCoy, M.D., Casana, J., Hill, A.C., Laugier, E.J., and Ladefoged, T.N. 2022. Mapping ancient architecture via unpiloted aerial vehicle-acquired Lidar: A case study of Holualoa Royal Centre, Kona district, Hawai'i Island. The Journal of the Polynesian Society 131(1): 71-92.
Casana, J., Laugier, E.J., Hill, A.C., Reese, K.M., Ferwerda, C., McCoy, M.D., and Ladefoged, T. 2021. Exploring archaeological landscapes using drone-acquired lidar: Case studies from Hawai’i, Colorado, and New Hampshire, USA. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 39, 103133
McCoy, M.D., Casana, J. , Hill, A.C., Laugier, E.J., Mulrooney, M.A., and Ladefoged, T.N. 2021. Unpiloted aerial vehicle acquired lidar for mapping monumental architecture: A case study from the Hawaiian Islands. Advances in Archaeological Practice 9(2): 160-174.
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