Even when buried below ground, archaeological features are sometimes recognizable on the surface thanks to abnormal vegetation or crop patterns for which we use the technical term cropmarks. Growth rate, size, thickness, and color of vegetation are among the clues that can give away the presence of subsurface buildings, fortifications, or backfilled pits. Especially in the early stages of the growing season and during dry spells, variations in moisture and nutrients present in the ground translate into different patterns of plant growth. Buried ditches, trenches, or pits (including graves) typically support thicker, taller, and faster growing vegetation because they […]