What is LIDAR used for in archaeology?

LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is primarily used in archaeology to detect features in heavily forested environments. This technology utilizes laser light to measure distances to the Earth’s surface, allowing researchers to create high-resolution topographical maps of the terrain beneath tree canopies.

In sites where traditional survey methods are challenging due to dense vegetation, LIDAR can penetrate the foliage, providing detailed information about the ground surface and revealing hidden archaeological features such as structures, roads, and other forms of human activity that might not be visible otherwise. This capability significantly enhances archaeological research by allowing archaeologists to locate and map sites that were previously obscured, ultimately contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of past human behaviors and landscapes.

While analyzing chemical signatures in soil or cataloging archaeological artifacts are important tasks in archaeology, they do not utilize the unique capabilities of LIDAR technology. Enhancing satellite imagery may also aid in archaeological investigations, but LIDAR specifically excels in penetrating dense vegetation, which sets it apart from other remote sensing techniques.