Since its foundation in 2010, the Vienna-based Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology (LBI ArchPro) has been investigating the Kreuttal, an area located 25 km north of Vienna, as one of several case studies. Different methods have been tested and developed for efficient archaeological prospection. The methods applied include geophysical prospection, airborne and terrestrial laser scanning, aerial photography, soil sampling, fieldwalking and targeted archaeological excavations. A special focus was placed on the development and application of motorised magnetic prospection. Over the past years, considerable parts of the landscape have been surveyed and investigated through fieldwalking, so that recent changes could be documented. This case study highlights how the acquired datasets provide valuable information on various parameters of fundamental archaeological interest. Soil erosion and accumulation have transformed the landscape significantly, affecting the detection and identification of archaeological remains. By comparing all collected datasets, it is possible to analyse the various physical parameters such as topography, soil characteristics and humidity based on an integrative approach to data interpretation.
Schlagworte: Motorised magnetometry , Landscape Archaeology, multi-methodological datasets , integrated interpretation , spatio-temporal analysis, GIS-based archaeological information system (G-AIS)