An Archaeological Survey of the Tehuacan Valley, Mexico: A Test of Color Infrared Photography

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Abstract
Using data collected by NASA in the Tehuacan Valley, Mexico, tests were undertaken to determine the effectiveness of aerial color infrared film for archaeological reconnaissance. The study area was chosen primarily because MacNeish's Tehuacan Archaeological-Botanical Project (1960-1964) provided a convenient check of site visibility on the photographs, and because microenvironmental zones have been delineated in the valley allowing visibility of sites in different microenvironments to be determined. Our tests indicate that the type of cultural feature or its age are not as important as the environmental situation in distinguishing the site. The greatest archaeological value, however, of color infrared photography is in the delineation of microenvironmental zones and the construction of natural maps rather than the identification of cultural features.