2. THE URBAN SURVEY

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Completion of the GPS Survey
In 1997 Scott Branting initiated a highly sophisticated Global Positioning System (GPS) survey. In 2000, assisted by Nurdan Atalan and Köksal Sanli, Scott completed this essential component of the remote sensing program at Kerkenes (Figs 2, 6 and 7). The result is based on some 1,400,000 individual readings obtained through intensive kinematic survey with Trimble equipment. The 3D surface simulations can be combined, in whole or in part, with balloon photographs, geomagnetic data and measured plans. This is the first time that such intensive GPS survey has been carried out over an entire ancient city, underscoring the central role that the application of new, non-intrusive, techniques play in the development of research design at Kerkenes. Technologies with archaeological potential advance rapidly. It is worth noting that highly accurate GPS, such as that now utilised at Kerkenes, did not exist when the Project was inaugurated in 1993.

Geophysical Survey
Geomagnetic survey of the southern portion of the city, from the East Gate to the Göz Baba Gate and covering many of the steep slopes to the north, was completed in 2000 (Fig. 4). Co-ordinated by Nahide Aydin, assisted by Mark Francis, Katsutoshi Fukuda and Kathy Geers, data collection with two GEOSCAN FM36 fluxgate magnetometers covered an area of 60 hectares in only 30 days.(Fig. 5) A selection of images can be seen on Figures 8, 9 and 10.

Highlights include evidence for considerable building on the steep slopes below the Kale and on the even steeper slopes on the north side of the southern ridge, and the discovery of a large bank of reservoirs on the slopes below the Kiremitlik, as well as the definition of large building complexes, perhaps all public, between the Leech Pond and the East Gate.

Large area geomagnetic survey of sub-surface remains continues to reveal a detailed city plan that it possible to interpret with increasing accuracy and confidence as additional techniques and test excavation add further dimensions. Completion of the geomagnetic map is the central goal of the Project over the next two seasons. The result will be an unprecedented plan of an Iron Age city.
In May, when the ground was still wet from spring rain, a brief season was devoted to experimentation with geoelectric survey using a Geoscan RM15 resistivity meter (Fig. 11) and in August Abdullah Ates and 3 students from Ankara University made experiments with a Noggin 250 Ground Penetrating Radar (Fig. 12), a CM-031 Conductivity meter and Magnetic Susceptibility.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
GIS is the environment for the management of the project data sets (Fig. 13 and 14). The different techniques of mapping surface and sub-surface features using balloon photography, GPS topographical survey, geophysical survey, ground truthing and evidence derived from test excavations, are brought together in a variety of combinations. The aims are twofold: the first is the creation of virtual reality simulations that will provide stunning visual images for a wide public and the second is the application of analytical techniques that will provide new insights into the urban dynamics of the city.