The implementation and application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analyses have become standard practice in many archaeological projects. In this study, we demonstrate how GIS can play a crucial role in the study of taphonomy, i.e., understanding the processes that underpinned the creation of archaeological deposits, in this case the distribution of artifacts across an archeological site. The Stelida Naxos Archeological Project (SNAP) is focused on the exploration of a Paleolithic-Mesolithic stone tool quarry site located on the island of Naxos, Greece. An extensive pedestrian survey was conducted during the 2013 and 2014 archeological field seasons. An abundance of lithic material was collected across the surface, with some diagnostic pieces dating to more than 250 Kya. Spatial statistical analysis (Empirical Bayesian Kriging) was conducted on the survey data to generate predictive distribution maps for the site. This study then determined the contextual integrity of the surface artifact distributions through a study of geomorphic processes. A digital surface model (DSM) of the site was produced using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) aerial photography and Structure from Motion (SfM) terrain modeling. The DSM employed to develop a Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model and hydrological flow models. The model results provide important insights into the site geomorphological processes and allow categorization of the diagnostic surface material locations based on their contextual integrity. The GIS analysis demonstrates that the surface artifact distribution has been significantly altered by post-depositional geomorphic processes, resulting in an overall low contextual integrity of surface artifacts. Conversely, the study identified a few areas with high contextual integrity, loci that represent prime locations for excavation. The results from this study will not only be used to inform and guide further development of the archeological project (as well as representing significant new data in its own right), but also contributes to current debates in survey archaeology, and in mapping and prospection more generally. This project demonstrates the benefit of using spatial analysis as a tool for planning of pedestrian surveys and for predictive mapping of artifact distributions prior to archaeological excavations. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Mapping anomalies in the Earth’s magnetic field is one method used in applied geophysics, for exploring buried structures and objects. Magnetic surveys can be ground-based or made airborne, onboard airplanes, helicopters, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), also known as drones. The measurements in this project were made as part of a mapping project by the Swedish Geological Survey (SGU) in the Enåsen area in Hälsingland, central Sweden. The magnetic data were collected by SGU in the field summer of 2021. The aim of this project is to model the data from UAV-borne surveys and validate them by checking the response with the measure ground-based data collected by SGU and compare several different profiles to investigate the different results from ground-based vs. UAV-borne surveys. Two models from two different UAV flight lines were made using the software Potent, to show anomalies in the magnetic field intensity. The modelling results show a relatively good correlation between the response from the model and ground-based data. However, there are detailed variations in the ground-based data that are not resolved by the UAV data. This is partly because of the height difference and partly different sampling. The magnetic anomalies in the project area were interpreted, with the help of the modelled profiles, as being caused mainly by geological units consisting of metasedimentary rock/migmatite. These units generally dip with 30-50°, some of them containing Cuand Au-mineralizations. The dip, rock type, and magnetic susceptbilities of these units match the field data from SGU relatively well and are also backed up by SGU models of electrical resistivity from the same area. / Kartläggning av avvikelser i jordens magnetfält är en metod som används inom tillämpad geofysik för att upptäcka underjordiska strukturer och objekt. Magnetiska undersökningar kan utföras på marken eller från luften, med hjälp av flygplan, helikopter eller drönare. De geofysiska mätningarna i detta projekt gjordes som en del av ett karteringsprojekt av Sveriges geologiska undersökning (SGU) i Enåsen, Hälsingland. Dessa magnetiska data insamlades av SGU under sommaren 2021. Syftet med projektet är att modellera magnetiska data insamlade med hjälp av drönare, för att sedan kontrollera modellerna med magnetiska markdata insamlade av SGU i samma område. Dessa profiler jämfördes för att undersöka hur insamlad data från drönare respektive markmätningar skiljer sig. Modellerna gjordes i programvaran Potent, där anomalierna i magnetfältets intensitet. Resultaten från modelleringen visar en relativt tydlig korrelation mellan hur modellen (från insamlade drönardata) svarar mot markdata. Det förekommer dock små variationer i profilerna från markdata, som inte syns i modellerna från drönardata. Detta beror delvis på att mätningarna gjordes på olika höjd, och delvis på att proverna skiljer sig åt i viss mån. De magnetiska anomalierna i projektområdet tolkades med hjälp av de modellerade profilerna, och förmodas vara orsakade av enheter av metasedimentär bergart/migmatit. Dessa enheter stupar mestadels med 30-50°, och på vissa platser förekommer Cu- och Au-mineraliseringar. Stupningen, bergarter och den magnetiska susceptibiliteten stämmer relativt väl överens med SGU:s information från fältundersökningar, och tolkningen styrks ytterligare av SGU:s modeller av den elektriska resistiviteten i samma område.