Extra mound structures surrounding the Figueirinha II shell mound seen through the GPR

Este trabalho procurou por evidências das ocupações sambaquieiras para fora dos sambaquis, buscando eventos de ocupação relativos aos concheiros, mas externo a eles em áreas de alta dinâmica sedimentar. Para tanto se consorciou o radar de penetração de solo (GPR) ao sistema de navegação global por satélite (GNSS), funcionando em modo cinemático de tempo real (RTK), em um esforço de sensoriamento remoto em meio a um campo de dunas no Município de Jaguaruna, no litoral de Santa Catarina. Conseguimos, através do sensoriamento, realizar prospecções arqueológicas e encontrar estruturas marginais aos concheiros, previstas em estudos anteriores que apontavam a remobilização de material processados em outras áreas para dentro dos sambaquis. Encontramos, mapeamos, escavamos, descrevemos e amostramos essas estruturas peri-sambaquieiras no entorno do Sambaqui da Figueirinha II de forma a apresentarmos um panorama da distribuição espacial e temporal destas estruturas.The work presented here searched for evidences of mound builder\'s occupation outside the shell mounds itself, in search of events related to the shell mounds, but external to it in a very dynamic area. We have integrated the GPR and GNSS-RTK technologies in order to take the archaeological research regarding the shell mound cultures outside the mounds, by remote sensing areas in which extensive sand dunes are found in search of evidence regarding the mound builder\'s settlement in the areas surrounding the mounds, which the existence was predicted in previous studies. In this sense, we integrate the technologies and carried out the sensing of the Figueirinha Region in Santa Catarina State. We have found, mapped, excavated, described and sampled the extra-mounds archaeological occurrences surrounding the Figueirinha II shell mound, in order to presenting an overview of the spatial and chronological distributions of such structures

Using ground penetrating radar to understand the failure of the Koh Ker Reservoir, Northern Cambodia

International audienceGround penetrating radar, probing, and excavation were used to create a contour map of the topography of a buried laterite pavement forming the spillway of a large abandoned reservoir at the Angkorian-period city of Koh Ker in Cambodia. Calculations of the flow velocity of water through the spillway, based on the topography of the laterite surface, demonstrate that this outlet was even less adequate for passing the flow of water from the Stung Rongea catchment than had been estimated previously by Lustig, Klassen, Evans, French, & Moffat (2018). We argue that this design flaw contributed substantially to the failure of the reservoir's dike, possibly during the first rainy season after construction, which may have contributed to Koh Ker's remarkably short-lived tenure as the political center of the Khmer Empire

Deciphering a timeline of demise at medieval Angkor, Cambodia using remote sensing

The Greater Angkor Region was the center of the Khmer Empire from the 9th until the 13th to the 14th centuries CE, when it entered a period of decline. Many studies have suggested that the decline of Angkor was precipitated by several factors, including severe monsoons, geopolitical shifts, and invasions. In this paper, we use light detection and ranging and ground penetrating radar to investigate the possible intersection of two of these existential threats in one feature: the North Bank Wall. Our results indicate that this feature was designed with dual functionality of extending the urban area’s defenses to the east of Angkor Thom while maintaining the existing infrastructure for the distribution and disposal of water. These findings suggest that the North Bank Wall was built before the severe droughts in the mid-13th century. The timing of the construction indicates that the perceived need for additional security—whether from internal factional disputes or external adversaries—predated the final adaptations to the hydraulic network during the unprecedented monsoon variability of the 14th century. These results indicate that perceived political unrest may have played a more important role in the decline of the site than previously known.Published versionThis research was generously funded by the Arizona State University School of Human Evolution and Social Change Student Research Grant; Arizona State University Graduate Research Support Grant, Graduate and Professional Student Association, the Office of Graduate Education, and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Affairs; Australian Research Council Grant #DE160100703, Flinders University Research Investment Fund Grant, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Insight Development Grant (430-2019-01057)

Deciphering a Timeline of Demise at Medieval Angkor, Cambodia Using Remote Sensing

The Greater Angkor Region was the center of the Khmer Empire from the 9th until the 13th to the 14th centuries CE, when it entered a period of decline. Many studies have suggested that the decline of Angkor was precipitated by several factors, including severe monsoons, geopolitical shifts, and invasions. In this paper, we use light detection and ranging and ground penetrating radar to investigate the possible intersection of two of these existential threats in one feature: the North Bank Wall. Our results indicate that this feature was designed with dual functionality of extending the urban area’s defenses to the east of Angkor Thom while maintaining the existing infrastructure for the distribution and disposal of water. These findings suggest that the North Bank Wall was built before the severe droughts in the mid-13th century. The timing of the construction indicates that the perceived need for additional security—whether from internal factional disputes or external adversaries—predated the final adaptations to the hydraulic network during the unprecedented monsoon variability of the 14th century. These results indicate that perceived political unrest may have played a more important role in the decline of the site than previously known