Landscape Archaeology
Thomas Sever
A graduate of the University of Colorado and now an archaeologist for NASA, Tom Sever is a specialist in archaeology, land use change, and remote sensing. He has played a significant role in the advancement of remote sensing and GIS technology applied in archaeological research in various parts of the world, with a primary focus on Guatemala. His research has helped in the identification of archaeological sites using airborne and satellite systems. Sever’s research was also a key influence in the establishment of the Guatemalan Maya Biosphere Reserve in 1990. Remote sensing is a methodological contribution to archaeology that helps detect and inventory sites, as well as prioritize surface and shallow-depth archaeological information. Sever also studies the differences in color and contrast that result from human transformations of the natural landscapes.
San Bartolo, Guatemala.