Author:

Keywords:

remote sensing, sediment fingerprinting, geomorphology

Abstract:

The palaeo-environment is not only time-dependent, but has also an important spatial dimension as land use on a given territory during a specific period is function of physical characteristics as well as time-dependent socio-economic values. Land use changes have a major impact on the erosion and deposition of sediments in the catchment. Spatial analyses of landscape dynamics therefore are crucial to understand the possible influence of changing settlement patterns on the physical landscape. To contribute to this spatial dimension, novel techniques of interpretation of very high (Ikonos and Quickbird) and medium (Aster) spatial resolution satellite images are combined with resistivity measurements and geochemical analysis of soil samples. Focus is on the Çanaklı Ovası, an intra-mountain basin in the surroundings of the ancient town of Sagalassos in the Western Taurus Mountains, 100 km north of Antalya, SW Turkey. The Çanaklı Ovası was selected since different colour zones could be identified in the imagery, which probably have a sedimentological or mineralogical origin. For this research about 21 cores and 31 surface samples have been taken along 5 profiles crossing different colour zones. Preliminary interpretation of remote sensing data in combination with resistivity measurements and geochemical analysis shows that the colour variations in the imagery are most likely related to the development of fans of which the material is originating from different lithological units.