Application of remote sensing techniques for the localitation of prehistoric flint mining evidences in the archaeological complex of Treviño (Basque-Cantabrian Basin, Spain)

Abstract

The prehistoric flint mining complex is located in the “Sierra de Araico” (South-Pyrenean Syncline) of the Western Pyrenees (Spain), situated in Treviño County (Burgos) and in the municipality of Berantevilla (Álava). In the last years investigations have been carried out for the detection of prehistoric mining activity, some of them dated from the Neolithic. Nonetheless, the vast extension of the Sierra has prevented, until the moment, from locating and delimiting all the vestiges associated to mining that exist there. In this way, the objective of this work is to continue with the preliminary definition of the archaeological mining area by the localization of flint extraction structures. For this aim, in this study we will use the obtained data from the remote sensors and the observation of the morphological and geomorphologic variables of the terrain. This will allow us to explore the area for the subsequent development of archaeological investigations in the new mining evidences that we find. We propose the interpretation of the earth’s surface by using the data obtained from the aerial photography, satellite images and Digital Terrain Models (DTM), derived from the LiDAR data (Light Detection and Ranging). The objective is to examine the structures that could be observed in the earth’s surface and its relation with the different types of exploited flints. This methodology will allow the design of prospection works that will make possible to overcome the self difficulties of the extension of the archaeological complex—about 2,000 hectares—, providing a general vision of the areas subject to mining activity and of the geological characteristics of the South flank of the Miranda-Treviño syncline.