Novel Combined Approach of GIS and Electrical Tomography to Identify Marsh/Lake at Kastrouli Late Mycenaean Settlement (Desfina, Greece)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The article presents preliminary results from the application of ERT and DEM analysis to detect the extent of ancient wetlands used in archaeological research.
Some of the assumptions that were made in the course of the conducted analyzes require explanations.
page 5 (chapter 2.2) - no detailed explanation of what data were used to create the DEM. What data were obtained using the UAV? Wouldn't it be better to use Lidar data instead of topographic maps?
page 7, Fig. 6 - no axis units.
page 8 - instead of reporting slopes in degrees, it would be better to specify the slope in%, as most classifications describing slopes are given in%.
What was the basis for adopting 5 ° to designate the low slope terrain? E.g. according to the FAO classification, flat areas are up to 2%, and with very gently sloping up to 4% of the slope. This is less than half of the adopted value (5 ° corresponds to approximately 8.75%). It needs to be explained why in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 slope areas 1, 2 and 3 degrees are delineated.
The slope map (Fig. 10) is redundant - a more detailed map in Figs. 11, 12, 13 is enough for the analysis.
It is necessary to explain what the DEM and slope maps were used for in the analyses.

Author Response

REV 1

The article presents preliminary results from the application of ERT and DEM analysis to detect the extent of ancient wetlands used in archaeological research.Some of the assumptions that were made in the course of the conducted analyzes require explanations.

1.page 5 (chapter 2.2) - no detailed explanation of what data were used to create the DEM. What data were obtained using the UAV?

Explanation has been added in the text

Wouldn't it be better to use Lidar data instead of topographic maps?
Possibly, but the scale of the topographic maps we used was good enough for the purpose of the analysis.

2.page 7, Fig. 6 - no axis units.: Done

3.page 8 - instead of reporting slopes in degrees, it would be better to specify the slope in%, as most classifications describing slopes are given in%.

Both maps have been provided and in the updated manuscript  we refer to both (degrees and %).

4.What was the basis for adopting 5 ° to designate the low slope terrain? E.g. according to the FAO classification, flat areas are up to 2%, and with very gently sloping up to 4% of the slope. This is less than half of the adopted value (5 ° corresponds to approximately 8.75%).

Maybe according to FAO classification flat areas are up to 2%, but for an area such as our study area which is characterized by high slopes 5^o is low slope. Moreover, in most runoff erosion papers in Greece 5^o slope is considered as low slope. In any case, we could refer to that as relative low slope if it makes it better.

5.It needs to be explained why in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 slope areas 1, 2 and 3 degrees are delineated.

An explanation has been added to the text.

The slope map (Fig. 10) is redundant - a more detailed map in Figs. 11, 12, 13 is enough for the analysis.

It is excluded in the updated version.

6.It is necessary to explain what the DEM and slope maps were used for in the analyses

An additional explanatory text has been added. 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

General Comment:

This study is performed to determine the marsh and lake by combining a digital elevation model (DEM) and GIS at Kastrouli Late Mycenaean settlement. The authors provided an understanding of the presence of a flat area of the Kastrouli hill. I’ve made some comments to develop this manuscript. Also, I would like to very recommend that the authors improve English in the entire manuscript to provide a clear idea for the study. Overall, I suggest the major revision of the manuscript for publication at this time.

Specific Comments:

1. There are no line numbers. It is hard to mention the specific comments. Please use the line numbers next time.
2. In Abstract, flat area off -> flat area of?
3. In Abstract, what is c in the 20th c?
4. In Abstract, it is difficult to understand the text of “The sedimentation over ~ with lealth issues. Please rewrite this.
5. In Introduction, what is “ca 15th c.”, “ca. 9th–4th c. BC”, “C-14” etc.? Please more details, when you use the words at the first time.
6. In Introduction, too many paragraphs. Please combine paragraphs related to each other and reorganize.
7. In 2.2. GIS, DEM and thematic maps, please enlarge this section. It seems to be too short.
8. In Conclusion, the conclusion section tends to be too short. Please extend the section including the objectives, results, discussion, and future works.

Comments for author File: Comments.docx

Author Response

REV 2

This study is performed to determine the marsh and lake by combining a digital elevation model (DEM) and GIS at Kastrouli Late Mycenaean settlement. The authors provided an understanding of the presence of a flat area of the Kastrouli hill. I’ve made some comments to develop this manuscript. Also, I would like to very recommend that the authors improve English in the entire manuscript to provide a clear idea for the study. Overall, I suggest the major revision of the manuscript for publication at this time.

Specific Comments:

1. There are no line numbers. It is hard to mention the specific comments. Please use the line numbers next time.> DONE
2. In Abstract, flat area off -> flat area of?> As we put it is correct….off means outside. We keep it as such
3. In Abstract, what is c in the 20th c?> Has been corrected
4. In Abstract, it is difficult to understand the text of “The sedimentation over ~ with lealth issues. Please rewrite this.> It has been made as: The presence of two natural sinkholes with apparent engineering hydraulic works is noted to conform to drainage and produce a habitable environment protecting the cultivated land and avoiding a swamp associated with health issues.
5. In Introduction, what is “ca 15th c.”, “ca. 9th–4th c. BC”, “C-14” etc.? Please more details, when you use the words at the first time.> Done
6. In Introduction, too many paragraphs. Please combine paragraphs related to each other and reorganize.> The flooded landscapes in antiquity, the intended drainage works, the presence of lakes/marches in the vicinity of settlements and this situation in Greece has been reviewed and sentences joined together in the introduction.
7. In 2.2. GIS, DEM and thematic maps, please enlarge this section. It seems to be too short.DONE
8. In Conclusion, the conclusion section tends to be too short. Please extend the section including the objectives, results, discussion, and future works.> Done in red marking

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

I suggest "accept".