Exploring the use of LiDAR Remote Sensing Data to Illuminate Belle Glade Earthworks

Summary

Locating and mapping methodology of archaeological earthworks for the prehistoric Native American Belle Glade culture can be improved by applying airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) employing FUSION software and the Ground Filter program to these remote areas. This study compares the standard utilization of vendor created classes for ground classification to FUSION's software ground filter program. The two case study locations contain Belle Glade type B circular–linear earthwork formations that were utilized for quantifying the results of each LiDAR processing methodology and visualization method through comparison of identifiable formations. Florida's northern Everglade's landscape and South Florida's tropical climate make traditional methods for archaeological earthwork identification difficult. However, FUSION’s ground filter program provides more data and discernible features that are not possible from the standard method in both study sites in addition to providing reference points for georectification of the original scaled maps.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• The Belle Glade Culture Revisited

Keywords

Spatial Coverage