THE URBAN SURVEY

Completion of the Geomagnetic Survey

       The geomagnetic survey was completed in 2002 (Fig. 1). Since our first tentative steps almost all of the 2.5km2 have been mapped using Geoscan FM 36 machines. Only the Byzantine remains on the Kale and the Kiremitlik have been omitted. When Lewis Somers of Geoscan started us off in 1993 we little thought that ten years later we would be completing a magnetometer survey of the entire site. Nahide Aydin, who has won a University of Mississippi scholarship for an MSc in geophysics and anthropology, was responsible for much of the co-ordination of the survey as well as for training local workmen.

Resistivity Survey

      Following the excellent 2001 results, the spring season and part of the main season in June, before the soil dried out, were given over to extending the resistivity survey in the lower area of the city (Figs 4, 5 and 7b). Exceptional images were obtained in relatively stone-free areas. At a maximum of nine grids per day, it would take more than 100 years to survey the city entirely, so it is perhaps no bad thing that most of the site is unsuitable!

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

       Scott Branting, now a graduate at SUNY Buffalo, has been made an Associate Director of the Kerkenes Project with special responsibilities for GIS studies. A member of the team since 1994, Scott conducted the GPS survey and is currently developing research into GIS and transport modelling systems at Kerkenes. Nurdan Atalan is now co-ordinating the construction of the GIS data base in the Kerkenes Office at METU. The generous provision by ESRI and ERDAS of ArcGIS and ERDAS Imaging enables the Project to remain at the leading edge of innovative research.

Urban Dynamics

       In two portions of the lower part of the city it has been possible to combine geomagnetic and resistivity surveys with GPS surface simulations and verification on the ground. One of these areas is shown in Figs 6 , 7a and 7b. Examination on the ground allowed for the exclusion of later boundaries or terraces and shepherds huts from the plan of the Iron Age structures, none of the latter being visible on the ground. Although the geophysical images compare very well, they give quite different impressions. Resistivity tends to provide greater clarity, but this is not always the case. The areas that have been selected are very largely free of surface stones. The layout of the urban blocks and intervening streets are reasonably easy to discern. It would appear that position of urban block boundaries has perhaps been influenced by stream beds, one of which is situated on the left of the images, as well as by other elements of the topography. Most blocks are seen to be crammed with various types of buildings.