Remote sensing and archaeology in Modern Age: The study case of the Aldea de Buenos Aires in Sierra Morena

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrate a holistic strategy for the study of the disappeared Aldea de Buenos Aires (Sierra Morena, Aldeaquemada, Ja´en, Spain), founded in 1767 within a complex of foundations called “Nuevas Poblaciones” under king Charles III (1759–1788). In order to achieve the goal, we combined different documentary sources – manuscripts, printed materials, maps – and we associated them with information obtained by the use of different remote sensors, such as LiDAR, UAS-based photogrammetry and multispectral data. The final analysis of the collected data enables us to propose a hypothesis on the urban structure and dimensions of Aldea de Buenos Aires, along with its interrelation with the surrounding landscape and agricultural partitions.