Optimizing Strategies for Non‐Invasive Prospection of Settlements in the Intertidal Zone: A Case Study From the Centre of the Drowned Medieval Village of Tolsende (Scheldt Estuary, the Netherlands)

<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:p> Medieval and early modern drowned villages in the intertidal zone of the Scheldt estuary (the Netherlands) constitute intriguing yet largely understudied components of north‐western Europe's underwater cultural heritage. Despite their high archaeological potential as time capsules of past settlement landscapes, research has remained limited due to the lack of survey methodologies adapted to dynamic intertidal environments. In this study, we present the first results of a non‐invasive prospection approach to the lost medieval village of Tolsende (Zeeland, the Netherlands), which drowned in the storm floods of 1530 and 1532 <jats:sc>ce</jats:sc> . Using UAV photogrammetry, manual and UAV‐based magnetometry at low tide and multichannel sediment sonar at high tide, we present the first results of the central area of the village. The results demonstrate the effectiveness and potential applicability of this approach for exploring and mapping both exposed and buried archaeological remains across extensive intertidal areas. Photogrammetry rapidly documented the exposed remains and enables detailed erosion monitoring in the future. Magnetometry revealed buried structures of a church alongside smaller residential features and associated settlement infrastructure. However, UAV magnetometry failed to resolve the more subtle features that were detected by terrestrial surveys. Finally, the sediment‐sonar profiles provided insights into the vertical development of these features, as well as sedimentation and infill patterns, thereby adding essential stratigraphic context to the integrated interpretation of the survey data. Together, these results substantially advance current knowledge of the village centre and outline clear directions for future fieldwork. Nevertheless, these first results also warn that off‐the‐shelf methods require adaptations to the specific challenges of the intertidal environment and the nature of this preserved settlement landscape. </jats:p>