ABSTRACT
Over the past decade, paleolandscape reconstruction was introduced as part of a preventive archaeological evaluation strategy along the Scheldt river, due to the unexpected discovery of well-preserved prehistoric landscapes and sites during construction works in the Antwerp harbor area. Hereby, CPT is an important tool in combination with coring and/or near surface geophysical survey. Applications of CPT range from desktop studies, which determine evaluation strategies, to actual paleolandscape mapping by sedimentological data interpretation. CPT-Es (with added camera and/or electrical conductivity sensors) calibrate and validate geophysical subsurface modelling and soil behavior types are interpreted. Particularly, (electrical conductivity) CPT-C disentangles sedimentological and hydrological variations in electrical conductivity values. On the other hand, camera CPT improves differentiation of organic rich sediments and detection of thin organic soil horizons within homogenous (cover)sands. The usability of CPT is illustrated through recent prehistoric landscape evaluation studies along the Scheldt river.
