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Multispectral Remote Sensing Data Analysis and Application for Detecting Moats Around Medieval Settlements in South India

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Abstract

This work explores the potential of multispectral imagery in identifying dried and buried moats, and possibly any adjacent fortifications of medieval sites in South India. Vegetation marks in the form of geometrical patterns have been one of the key signatures indicating archaeological sites. To explore this three of well known sites from Karnataka in south India–Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura–were chosen as their historical accounts mention that they were townships which had circumscribing artefacts such as fort/wall or moats that at present are not easily detected from conventional exploration. These three sites belong to Hoysala dynasty, a period when a systematic town planning was followed based on cultural aspects such as the religion or faith followed by the inhabitants of respective sites. Traces of specific configuration of moats can be detected around each of them. The present work investigates the possibility of identifying these artefacts on space imageries through spatial and spectral distinction along with synoptic views and use of appropriate image processing and analysis techniques.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. V.S. Ramamurthy, Director, NIAS, and Dr. R.R. Navalgund, Former Director, SAC, for Institutional support and encouragement in carrying out this study. We also thank Prof S. Settar and Prof. B.V. Sreekantan at NIAS for useful discussions. The financial support for this project has been provided by Department of Space, Government of India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nalanda University (NU), 53, Lodi Estate, Council for Social Development Building, 2nd Floor, K.K. Birla Marg, New Delhi, 110003, India

    M. B. Rajani

  2. National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore, 560012, India

    K. Kasturirangan

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  1. M. B. Rajani
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  2. K. Kasturirangan
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Correspondence to M. B. Rajani.

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Rajani, M.B., Kasturirangan, K. Multispectral Remote Sensing Data Analysis and Application for Detecting Moats Around Medieval Settlements in South India. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 42, 651–657 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-013-0346-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-013-0346-4

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