Abstract
This paper uses remote sensing data to document a raised field, chinampa system adjacent to the Postclassic kingdom of Xaltocan in the northern Basin of Mexico. Various forms of landscape information; historic records and maps as well as remote sensing; are considered to understand the chinampa system. The remote sensing data examined include 1950s aerial photographs, Landsat 7 data, and Quickbird VHR, multi-spectral imagery. This article evaluates the utility of each of these forms of data to identify buried chinampa features and integrates them in a GIS to produce a map of Xaltocan's chinampa landscape. Canals of various sizes and hydrological positions comprised the chinampas and integrated the system together. Occupying at least 1500-2000 ha, Xaltocan's chinampa system represents the largest pre-Aztec, chinampa system in the Basin of Mexico.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2541-2551 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Archaeological Science |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Agriculture
- Basin of Mexico
- Chinampas
- Landscape archaeology
- Remote sensing
- Satellite imagery
- Xaltocan
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Archaeology
- Archaeology