Archaeological Reconnaissance in Tarbagatai (East Kazakhstan) Using Satellite Imagery Data: methodology and results of research

The paper deals with the results of an archaeological reconnaissance based on satellite imagery in the Tarbagatai mountain range and its foothills (Abai region, Republic of Kazakhstan). One of the key aspects of the study was the detailed development of a survey methodology, which was divided into t...

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Main Author: Andrey A. Pushkarev
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: State institution «Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences» 2025-04-01
Series:Археология евразийских степей
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.evrazstep.ru/index.php/aes/article/view/1571
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author Andrey A. Pushkarev
author_facet Andrey A. Pushkarev
author_sort Andrey A. Pushkarev
collection DOAJ
description The paper deals with the results of an archaeological reconnaissance based on satellite imagery in the Tarbagatai mountain range and its foothills (Abai region, Republic of Kazakhstan). One of the key aspects of the study was the detailed development of a survey methodology, which was divided into three stages: preparatory, searcg, and verification. During the preparatory stage, mapping of archaeological sites known from archival sources and publications was carried out. This made it possible to gather essential data on how these sites appear in satellite imagery, which was later used to search for new archaeological objects. The search phase involved a visual examination of satellite images covering a total area of 17,309 km². The search was conducted systematically using a specially designed grid, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the area. At the verification stage, all identified objects were reviewed in accordance with the experience accumulated during the survey. As a result, 1166 objects were identified as archaeological sites: 664 of them are very likely to be archaeological sites (category 1) and 502 require further verification (category 2). The distribution of the identified objects by type is as follows: burial sites – 1132, settlement ones – 33. The identified objects contain a total of 4582 elements (barrows, masonry, etc.). The article also examines the relationship between the applied archaeological reconnaissance methodology and the rapidly developing technologies of neural networks and machine learning for site detection. It is concluded that the proposed methodology, due to its free of charge and greater availability, holds an independent value, at the same time, the data obtained with its help can be used in the future to train neural networks to search for previously unknown sites and other archaeological research.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher State institution «Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences»
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spelling doaj-art-e7977e6e39e24f699ee2b7ed2f8522582025-08-20T02:41:39ZengState institution «Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences»Археология евразийских степей2587-61122618-94882025-04-01230731610.24852/2587-6112.2025.2.307.316Archaeological Reconnaissance in Tarbagatai (East Kazakhstan) Using Satellite Imagery Data: methodology and results of researchAndrey A. Pushkarev0East Kazakhstan Regional Museum of History and Local Lore, Kaysenov Str., 40, Ust-Kamenogorsk, 070004, Republic of KazakhstanThe paper deals with the results of an archaeological reconnaissance based on satellite imagery in the Tarbagatai mountain range and its foothills (Abai region, Republic of Kazakhstan). One of the key aspects of the study was the detailed development of a survey methodology, which was divided into three stages: preparatory, searcg, and verification. During the preparatory stage, mapping of archaeological sites known from archival sources and publications was carried out. This made it possible to gather essential data on how these sites appear in satellite imagery, which was later used to search for new archaeological objects. The search phase involved a visual examination of satellite images covering a total area of 17,309 km². The search was conducted systematically using a specially designed grid, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the area. At the verification stage, all identified objects were reviewed in accordance with the experience accumulated during the survey. As a result, 1166 objects were identified as archaeological sites: 664 of them are very likely to be archaeological sites (category 1) and 502 require further verification (category 2). The distribution of the identified objects by type is as follows: burial sites – 1132, settlement ones – 33. The identified objects contain a total of 4582 elements (barrows, masonry, etc.). The article also examines the relationship between the applied archaeological reconnaissance methodology and the rapidly developing technologies of neural networks and machine learning for site detection. It is concluded that the proposed methodology, due to its free of charge and greater availability, holds an independent value, at the same time, the data obtained with its help can be used in the future to train neural networks to search for previously unknown sites and other archaeological research.https://www.evrazstep.ru/index.php/aes/article/view/1571archaeologysatellite imagerygeoinformation systemsarchaeological reconnaissanceeast kazakhstanabai regiontarbagatai
spellingShingle Andrey A. Pushkarev
Archaeological Reconnaissance in Tarbagatai (East Kazakhstan) Using Satellite Imagery Data: methodology and results of research
Археология евразийских степей
archaeology
satellite imagery
geoinformation systems
archaeological reconnaissance
east kazakhstan
abai region
tarbagatai
title Archaeological Reconnaissance in Tarbagatai (East Kazakhstan) Using Satellite Imagery Data: methodology and results of research
title_full Archaeological Reconnaissance in Tarbagatai (East Kazakhstan) Using Satellite Imagery Data: methodology and results of research
title_fullStr Archaeological Reconnaissance in Tarbagatai (East Kazakhstan) Using Satellite Imagery Data: methodology and results of research
title_full_unstemmed Archaeological Reconnaissance in Tarbagatai (East Kazakhstan) Using Satellite Imagery Data: methodology and results of research
title_short Archaeological Reconnaissance in Tarbagatai (East Kazakhstan) Using Satellite Imagery Data: methodology and results of research
title_sort archaeological reconnaissance in tarbagatai east kazakhstan using satellite imagery data methodology and results of research
topic archaeology
satellite imagery
geoinformation systems
archaeological reconnaissance
east kazakhstan
abai region
tarbagatai
url https://www.evrazstep.ru/index.php/aes/article/view/1571
work_keys_str_mv AT andreyapushkarev archaeologicalreconnaissanceintarbagataieastkazakhstanusingsatelliteimagerydatamethodologyandresultsofresearch