TY  - JOUR
T1  - Exploring Balıklı Archaeological Settlement and its surrounding landscape via GIS and geophysical survey
AU  - Küçükdemirci, Melda
PY  - 2025
DA  - September
Y2  - 2025
DO  - 10.28979/jarnas.1701574
JF  - Journal of Advanced Research in Natural and Applied Sciences
JO  - JARNAS
PB  - Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University
WT  - DergiPark
SN  - 2757-5195
SP  - 237
EP  - 259
VL  - 11
IS  - 3
LA  - en
AB  - This study utilizes a multi-scale methodology that combines geophysical surveys with Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based analysis of satellite imagery and Digital Elevation Models (DEM) at the Balıklı Archeological Settlement. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) revealed potential subsurface structures, while regional analyses, including satellite imagery, DEM, slope, aspect, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), watershed delineation, mass movement susceptibility, and viewshed assessments, offered a comprehensive understanding of the area's topography, hydrology, and landscape suitability. The results suggest that Balıklı should be strategically situated on relatively flat, south-facing terrain near water catchments, providing favorable conditions for living and strong visual control of the surrounding landscape. Gathering integrated spatial and geophysical data is crucial in archeology, as it offers valuable insights into how ancient societies engaged with their surroundings. This data also forms a foundational spatial framework that supports further investigations into settlement patterns, land use, and cultural evolution.
KW  - Balıklı archeological settlement
KW  - GIS
KW  - archeological prospection
KW  - DEM
KW  - satellite imagery
CR  - L. Luo, X. Wang, H. Guo, R. Lasaponara, X. Zong, N. Masini, G. Wang, P. Shi, H. Khatteli, F. Chen, S. Tariq, J. Shao, N. Bachagha, R. Yang, Y. Yao, Airborne and spaceborne remote sensing for archaeological and cultural heritage applications: A review of the century (1907–2017), Remote Sensing of Environment (232) (2019) 1–34.
CR  - S. R. L. Campana, Remote sensing in archaeology, in: A. S. Gilbert, P. Goldberg, R. D. Mandel, V. Aldeias (Eds.), Encyclopedia of geoarchaeology, Encyclopedia of earth sciences series, Springer, Cham, 2023, pp.1–25.
CR  - D. Kaimaris, Aerial remote sensing archaeology-a short review and applications, Land 13 (7) (2024) 1–25.
CR  - R. Deiana, G. Leucci, R. Martorana, New perspectives on geophysics for archaeology, Surveys in Geophysics (39) (2018) 1035-1038.
CR  - R. Martorana, P. Capizzi, A. Pisciotta, S. Scudero, C. Bottari, An overview of geophysical techniques and their potential suitability for archaeological studies, Heritage (6) (2023) 2886–2927.
CR  - D. Williams, K. Welham, S. Eve, P. De Smedt, Geophysical approaches to the archaeological prospection of early modern battlefield landscapes: a review of methods and objectives, Journal of Conflict Archaeology 19 (1) (2024) 6–41.
CR  - J. Kantner, Geographical approaches for reconstructing past human behavior from prehistoric roadways, in: M.F. Goodchild, D.G. Janelle (Eds.), Spatially Integrated Social Science: Examples in Best Practice, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2004, Ch.16, pp.323–344.
CR  - C. Frieman, M. Gillings, Seeing is perceiving?, World Archaeology 39 (1) (2007) 4–16.
CR  - R. Lasaponara, N. Masini, Remote sensing in archaeology: An overview, Journal of Aeronautics and Space Technologies 6 (1) (2013) 7–17.
CR  - M. D. McCoy, T. N. Ladefoged, New developments in the use of spatial technology in archaeology, Journal of Archaeological Research 17 (3) (2009) 263–295.
CR  - M. A. Levent, Database design with geographic information systems in archaeological research, Master’s Thesis Istanbul Technical University (2009) Istanbul.
CR  - D. Arca, D. Z. Şeker, M. Alkan, K. Serkan, Ç. Bayık, H. Acar, Development of web-based gis for the cultural heritage of Safranbolu, Turkey, International Journal of Environment and Geoinfromatics (IJEGEO) 5 (3) (2018) 368–377.
CR  - İ. Büyüksalih, M. Alkan, C. G. Gazioğlu, Design for 3D city model management using remote sensing and gis: a case study for the Golden Horn in Istanbul-Turkey, Sigma 37(4) (2019) 1450–1466.
CR  - N. A. Çayırezmez, P. E. Kaymakçı, G. D. Summers, Remote sensing in Kerkenes: Combining geophysical and other methods, Yerbilimleri 29 (2) (2008) 87–100.
CR  - A. Örgen, Arkeolojide CBS ve Alinda antik kentinde 2020 CBS çalışmaları: Topoğrafik Analizler, Alinda Araştırmaları 1, M. Çekilmez, Umut Kapuci (Eds), Aydın, 2020, pp:363–390.
CR  - İ. Dölek, A. Çevik, CBS kullanılarak savaş alanı arkeolojisi çalışmaları için bir veri tabanı oluşturulması: Malazgirt savaş alanının tespiti, tarihi ve arkeolojik yüzey araştırması projesi örneği, Türkiye Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri Dergisi, 5(2) (2023) 70–76.
CR  - D. Fidan, Arkeolojik Yüzey Araştırması Tahmin Haritalarının Uzaktan Algılama ve Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri ile Oluşturulması: Mersin İli, Silifke İlçesi Örneği, Türkiye Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri Dergisi, 3(1) (2021) 10–23.
CR  - S. Rutishauser, S. Erasmi, R. Rosenbauer, R. Buchbach, SARchaeology-Detecting Palaeochannels Based on High Resolution Radar Data and Their Impact of Changes in the Settlement Pattern in Cilicia (Turkey), Geosciences 7(4) (2017) 1–20.
CR  - G. Di Giacomo, I. Ditaranto, G. Scardozzi, Cartography of the archaeological surveys taken from an Ikonos stereo-pair: a case study of the territory of Hierapolis in Phrygia (Turkey), Journal of Archaeological Science 38(9) (2011) 2051–2060.
CR  - M. G. Gümüş, Spatial analyses with geographic information systems (GIS) in archeological applications: Knidos archeological field study, Master’s Thesis Necmettin Erbakan University (2016) Konya.
CR  - M. G. Kısaağa, S.S. Durduran, Arkeolojik Uygulamalarda Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri (CBS) Yoluyla Mekâna Yönelik Analizler: Knidos Arkeolojik Alan Çalışması. 6. Uzaktan Algılama-CBS Sempozyumu, Adana, 2016, pp. 865–872.
CR  - İ. Kaya, A. Demir Yetiş, Bazı tarihi yerleşimlere ait çeversel faktörlerin CBS destekli analizi: Kilikya Bölgesi örneği, Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 9(3) 2020 1337–1350.
CR  - G. Kılıç, Remote sensing monitoring and assessment of Silk Road in Turkey: Integrating drone systems with GPR and RM, Türk Uzaktan Algılama ve CBS Dergisi 3(2) 2022 126–138.
CR  - F. U. Koçyiğit, S. S. Durduran, T. Alkan, Creating geographical information system (GIS) database with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in archaeological areas: The case of Anemurium ancient city, Journal of Engineering Science and Design 10(3) (2022) 831–843.
CR  - Y. Polat, R. Tamsü Polat, Arkeolojik Belgelemede Teknolojik Yaklaşımlar: Yazılıkaya/Midas Kale Çalışmaları, Geomatik, 10 (3) (2025) 364–374.
CR  - M. Küçükdemirci, G. Landeschi, N. Kaya, Ö. Makaroğlu, İ. Işık, From top to deep: An integrated multidisciplinary approach for the study of a transformative landscape of Savatra ancient city, Near Surface Geophysics 22 (6) (2024) 652–665.
CR  - M. Ulukavak, A. Memduhoğlu, H. Şenol, N. Polat, The use of UAV and photogrammetry in digital documentation, Mersin Photogrammetry Journal 1 (1) (2019) 17–22.
CR  - Y. Ö. Uyar, H. Turoğlu,The living environment analysis of the prehistoric settlement of Aşağı Pınar (Kırklareli/Türkiye) using geographical data and GIS technologies, Journal of Geomorphological Researches (10) (2023) 78–90.
CR  - A. N. Goring-Morris, N. D. Munro, M. Özbaşaran, N. Kayacan, M. Ergun, M. Uzdurum, S. Yelözer, F. Kalkan, G. Duru, Variation in the development of Neolithic societies atop the Central Anatolian Plateau: recent results from Balıklı, Antiquity 98 (401) (2024) 1163–1180.
CR  - N. Kayacan, N. Goring-Morris, G. Duru, Z. F. Taşkıran, B. Yücel, Aksaray yüzey araştırması 2016 ve 2017 yılı çalışmaları: İlk yerleşik topluluklar, in: N. Arslan, R. Aslan, A. Schachner, T. Takaoğlu, O. C. Henry, O. Özbek, T. Harrison, G. Sazcı, M. Frangipane, A. E. Özdoğan, M. Hoff, M. Omura (Eds.), T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı, Uluslararasi Kazı, Araştırma ve Arkeometri Sempozyumu, 36. Araştırma Sonuçları Toplantısı, Çanakkale, 2019, pp.195–206.
CR  - N. Kayacan, A. N. Goring-Morris, G. Duru, M. Özbaşaran, A Prehistoric survey in Cappadocia and a new early Holocene Site, Balıklı, in: Y. Nishiaki, O. Maeda, M. Arimura (Eds). Tracking the Neolithic in the Near East, Oxbow Books, Leiden, 2022, pp.387–396.
CR  - I. A. Yaman, Prehistoric period settlement areas in Aksaray province, in: M. S. Yıldız, A. Can, M. Özkaya, V. Armağan (Eds.), I. Uluslararası Aksaray Sempozyumu (Kültür, Tarih, Din, Medeniyet), Aksaray, 2016, pp.393–410.
CR  - B. Gürsoy, Aksaray province and its surroundings in Neolithic and Chalcolithic ages, Master’s thesis Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University (2023), Nevşehir.
CR  - Ç. N. Balkan-Atlı, D. Binder, B. Gratuze, Göllü Dağ (Central Anatolia): Obsidian sources, workshops and trade, Anatolian metal (4) (2008) 203–210.
CR  - U. Esin, S. Harmankaya, Aşıklı, in: M. Özdoğan, N. Başgelen (Eds.), Neolithic in Turkey, The cradle of Civilisation, New Discoveries, İstanbul, (1999), 115–132.
CR  - U. Esin, Cooper objects from the pre-Pottery neolithic site of Aşıklı, The beginning of metallurgy, Der Anschnitt, Beihaft (9) (1999) 23–30.
CR  - M. J. Harrower, Geographic information systems (GIS) hydrological modeling in archaeology: An example from the origins of irrigation in Southwest Arabia (Yemen), Journal of Archaeological Science 37 (7) (2010) 1447–1452.
CR  - Planet satellite imagery (PlanetLab) (2025), https://www.planet.com/, Accessed 4 January 2025.
CR  - ALOS PALSAR: Radiometrically Terrain Corrected Data (2025). NASA DAAC at the Alaska Satellite Facility. NASA EOSDIS DAAC., https://asf.alaska.edu/, Accessed 12 January 2025.
CR  - R. Lasaponara, N. Masini, Identification of archaeological buried remains based on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from Quickbird satellite data, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters 3 (3) (2006) 325–328.
CR  - A. Agapiou, D. D. Alexakis, D. G. Hadjimitsis, Spectral sensitivity of ALOS, ASTER, IKONOS, LANDSAT and SPOT satellite imagery intended for the detection of archaeological crop marks, International Journal of Digital Earth 7 (3) (2014) 351–372.
CR  - J. J. Fuldain González, F. R. Varón Hernández, NDVI identification and survey of a Roman road in the northern Spanish province of Álava, Remote Sensing 11 (6) (2019) 725–747.
CR  - D. Plekhov, L. R. Gosner, A. J. Smith, J. Nowlin, Applications of satellite remote sensing for archaeological survey: A case study from the Sinis archaeological project, Sardinia, Advances in Archaeological Practice 8 (2) (2020) 192–205.
CR  - D. Wheatley, M. Gillings, Digital elevation models, spatial technology and archaeology: The Archaeological Applications of GIS, 1st edition, CRC Press, 2002.
CR  - F. Yıldızhan, Investigation of geological and geotechnical of Holocene sediments in Aksaray province, Master's Thesis Niğde University (2007), Niğde.
CR  - D. Crook, Hydrology of the combination irrigation system in the Wadi Faynan, Jordan, Journal of Archaeological Science 36 (10) (2009) 2427–2436.
CR  - P. G. Whitehead, S. J. Smith, A. J. Wade, S. J. Mithen, B. L. Finlayson, B. Sellwood, P. J. Valdes, Modelling of hydrology and potential population levels at bronze Age Jawa, northern Jordan: A Monte Carlo approach to cope with uncertainty, Journal of Archaeological Science 35 (3) (2008) 517–529.
CR  - M. D. Demers, Fundamentals of geographic information systems, John Wiley & Sons, 2000.
CR  - M. Lake, Viewing space, World Archaeology 39 (1) (2007) 1–3.
CR  - S. J. Eve, E. R. Crema, A house with a view? Multi-model inference, visibility fields, and point process analysis of a bronze Age settlement on Leskernick Hill (Cornwall, UK), Journal of Archaeological Science 43 (1) (2014) 267–277.
CR  - J. Kantner, R. Hobgood, A GIS-based viewshed analysis of Chacoan tower kivas in the US Southwest: were they for seeing or to be seen?, Antiquity 90 (353) (2016) 1302–1317.
CR  - J. A. Doyle, T. G. Garrison, S. D. Houston, Watchful Realms: Integrating GIS analysis and political history in the southern Maya lowlands, Antiquity 86 (333) (2012) 792–807.
CR  - D. Wheatley, M. Gillings, Visibility analysis and archaeology, in: Spatial Technology and Archaeology: The Archaeological Applications of GIS, 1st edition, CRC Press, 2002.
CR  - J. Bongers, E. Arkush, M. Harrower, Landscapes of death: GIS-based analyses of chullpas in the western Lake Titicaca basin, Journal of Archaeological Science 39 (6) (2012) 1687–1693.
CR  - J. Hruska, G. Fuchs, GPR prospection in ancient Ephesos, Journal of Applied Geophysics 41(2-3) (1999) 293-312.
CR  - M. G. Drahor, M. A. Berge, C. Öztürk, Integrated geophysical surveys for the subsurface mapping of buried structures under and surrounding of the Agios Voukolos Church in İzmir, Turkey, Journal of Archaeological Science 38 (9) (2011) 2231–2242.
CR  - S. Kadıoğlu, Definition of buried archaeological remains with a new 3D visualization technique of a ground penetrating radar data set in Temple Augustus in Ankara, Turkey, Near Surface Geophysics 8(5) (2010) 397–406.
CR  - G. Leucci, G. Di Giacomo, I. Ditaranto, I. Miccoli, G. Scardozzi, Integrated Ground‐penetrating Radar and Archaeological Surveys in the Ancient City of Hierapolis of Phrygia (Turkey), Archaeological Prospection 20 (4) (2013) 285–301.
CR  - S. Negri, G. Leucci, Geophysical investigation of the Temple of Apollo (Hierapolis, Turkey), Journal of Archaeological Science 33 (11) (2006) 1505–1513.
CR  - A. Büyüksaraç, C. Ç. Yalçıner, Y. L. Ekinci, A. Demirci, M. A. Yücel, Geophysical investigations at Agadere Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsular, NW Turkey, Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences 46 (1) (2014) 111–123.
CR  - M. G. Drahor, M. A. Berge, C. Öztürk, B. Ortan, Integrated geophysical investigations at a sacred Hittite Area in central Anatolia, Turkey, Near Surface Geophysics (13) (2015) 523–543.
CR  - Ç. Balkaya, U. Y. Kalyoncuoğlu, M. Özhanli, G. Merter, O. Çakmak, I. T. Güven, Ground-penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography studies in the biblical Pisidian Antioch city, southwest Anatolia, Archaeological Prospection (25) (2018) 285–300.
CR  - Ç. Balkaya, Y. L. Ekinci, O. Çakmak, M. Blömer, J. Arnkens, M. A. Kaya, A challenging archaeo-geophysical exploration through GPR and ERT surveys on the Keber Tepe, City Hill of Doliche, Commagene (Gaziantep, SE Turkey), Journal of Applied Geophysics (186) (2021) 104272.
CR  - C. Yalçıner Y. C., Kurban, E. Gündoğdu, M. A. Yücel, Gallipoli Peninsula War archeogeophysics studies: Şahindere Martyrdom and Lone Pine Monument sample study sites, Journal of Advanced Research in Natural and Applied Sciences 7 (3) (2021) 408–422.
CR  - M. Küçükdemirci, E. Özer, S. Piro, N. Baydemir, D. Zamuner, An application of integration approaches for archaeo-geophysical data: Case study from Aizanoi, Archaeological Prospection (25) (2018) 33–44.
CR  - Ş. Aydıngün, Y.C. Kurban, C. Ç, Yalçıner, A. Büyüksaraç, E. Gündoğdu, E. Altunel, High-resolution ground penetrating radar investigation of yerebatan (Basilica) cistern in İstanbul (Constantinople) for restoration purposes, Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry 20 (3) (2020) 13–26.
CR  - N. Işık, F. M. Halifeoğlu, S. İpek, Detecting the ground-dependent structural damages in a historic mosque by employing GPR, Journal of Applied Geophysics, Volume 199 (2022) 104406.
CR  - S. Koşaroğlu, Z. Kamacı, S. Erdoğan, Ö. Bektaş, A. Büyüksaraç, Determination of historical graves by ground penetrating radar method: Sakarya Field Battle (August 23-September 13, 1921, Turkey), Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 54 (6) (2021) 842–860.
CR  - W. Rabbel, E. Erkul, H. Stümpel, T. Wunderlich, R. Pašteka, J. Papco, E. Pekşen, Discovery of a Byzantine Church in Iznik/Nicaea, Turkey: An educational case history of geophysical prospecting with combined methods in urban areas, Archaeological Prospection 22 (1) (2015) 1–20.
CR  - C. Ç. Yalçıner, Y.C. Kurban, E. Altunel, Research using GPR into the cause of cracks and depressions in the floor of the gallery of Hagia Sophia Museum, Construction and Building Materials (139) (2017) 458–466.
CR  - C. Ç. Yalçıner, A. Büyüksaraç, Y. C. Kurban, Non-destructive damage analysis in Kariye (Chora) Museum as a cultural heritage building, Journal of Applied Geophysics (171) (2019) 103874.
CR  - C. Ç. Yalçiner, M. Bano, M. Kadioglu, V. Karabacak, M. Meghraoui, E. Altunel, New temple discovery at the archaeological site of Nysa (western Turkey) using GPR method, Journal of Archaeological Science 36 (8) (2009) 1680–1689.
CR  - European Environment Agency, EU-Hydro-river network database 2006-2013, Europe. (2013). www.copernicus.eu/en Accessed: 10 February 2025.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.28979/jarnas.1701574
L1  - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4880290
ER  -