Hafit tombs in ash‐Sharqiyah, Oman: assessing the accuracy and precision of Google Earth remote‐sensing survey and analysing their distribution in the landscape

Abstract

Google Earth and high-resolution satellite imagery provide a means of carrying out remote-sensing survey of Hafit tombs able to cover large areas in short periods of time. While the potential of such research has already been demonstrated in the W ad ı Andam area, the accuracy and precision of the methodology are not yet clear. A ground survey carried out by a Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) team in western Ja'alan provides an excellent control to assess the efficacy of the method. The study area was surveyed using Google Earth, and the two datasets were compared. Hafit tombs were identified to a high level of accuracy, but approximately 50% of the structures were not visible, with badly preserved tombs more likely to be missed than those in good condition. Remote sensing can be used in the preliminary stages of survey or more generally to discover and analyse broad patterns of Hafit tomb distribution. Comparisons of the distribution of Hafit tombs in western Ja'alan and W ad ı Andam reveal clear similarities: the structures occupy elevated positions adjacent to sizeable wadi channels. The density of tombs is much greater in the western Ja'alan study area, which may suggest that W ad ı Batha supported a larger Hafit population than W ad ı Andam.

Archaeological surveys of a canyon and floodplain in the Tanūf District, North‐Central Oman: Optimised methodology and applications

“…Ḥafīt cemeteries were the most confirmable site type, and the satellite imagery surveys were effective for revealing the newly‐geolocated site candidates, such as WTN‐S01 and WTN‐S02, as well as for rechecking the overlooked ground‐truthing sites in WTN08 and SWH08. The effectiveness of detecting the location of Early Bronze Age tombs has been previously discussed in open topographical conditions, such as in Western Jaʾalān and Wādī Andam (Deadman, 2012a, 2012b, 2017; Deadman & Al‐Jahwari, 2016), and generally ratified in our study district. Wādī Sūq and Early Islamic cemeteries could also be geolocated, though their small tomb sizes could sometimes be difficult to detect.…”

“…Furthermore, surveys that have focused on specific purposes have been conducted on various topographical scales (e.g., Biagi, 1988; Orchard & Orchard, 2015; Orchard & Stanger, 1999; Weisgerber, 1980, 1981; Williams & Gregoricka, 2013, 2020). Meanwhile, remote‐sensing technology is useful in the sparse vegetation conditions in Southeast Arabia and has been applied during the topic‐specific surveys of tombs (Deadman, 2012a, 2012b, 2017; Deadman & Al‐Jahwari, 2016) and triliths (Garba, 2011) in broader areas.…”

Tracing the patterns: fields, villages, and burial places in Lebanon

“…Remote sensing has been a key tool in trying to understand and map their wider distribution and landscape location (e.g. Abu-Azizeh 2013;Bradbury 2011;Bradbury and Philip 2011;Deadman 2012;Deadman and Al-Jahwari 2016), as well as being used to document and monitor their current state and preservation (e.g. Rayne et al 2017: 18-23).…”

“…The use of remote sensing to identify and assess archaeological sites has now become a well-tested approach for the MENA region (e.g. Casana and Laugier 2017;Deadman and Al-Jahwari 2016;Hritz 2014;Kennedy and Bishop 2011;Menze and Ur 2012;Philip et al 2002; also see Wilkinson 2003: 33-37 on the limited use of this prior to the 2000s). While this is much quicker than visiting these places on the ground, the process is nonetheless time-consuming, and thus data collection is ongoing (compare the numbers of Google Earth pins with the numbers of archaeological and condition assessments in Table 1).…”

Survey methods and biases in the Al‐Mudhaybi Regional Survey, Sultanate of Oman

“…These data were mainly based on soil maps provided by the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals of the Sultanate of Oman, digital maps of the wadi courses from the National Survey Authority of the Sultanate of Oman and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission elevation maps published by the US Geological Service. Remote sensing based on satellite images or more rarely on aerial images with or without subsequent ground‐truthing is a common survey approach in Eastern Arabia, especially for Hafit period tombs (e.g., Deadman, 2012, 2017; Deadman & Al‐Jahwari, 2016; Munoz et al, 2017), but also other above‐ground, stone‐built structures such as triliths (Garba, 2019, 2021). Given the sparse vegetation and lack of soil formation, the landscape of Eastern Arabia is particularly suitable for this method.…”