The Role of Advanced Remote Sensing Geoarchaeological Technologies in Archaeological Site Discovery and Preservation

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Geoarchaeology Within the Context of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Today (Part One)" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The discovery and preservation of archaeological sites in rapidly changing environments present significant challenges, particularly when these sites are obscured by dense vegetation or other natural and anthropogenic factors. This paper reviews the application of advanced remote sensing technologies, including LiDAR, aerial photography, and satellite imagery, in addressing these challenges. Utilizing new LiDAR data, we identified several previously unknown archaeological sites, many of which were covered by dense vegetation, demonstrating the technology's capability to penetrate forest canopies and reveal hidden cultural features.

Through case studies from Maui, Hawaii, and the East Coast of the United States, we illustrate how these technologies have been employed to effectively identify, document, and protect archaeological sites under threat from urban development, climate change, wildfires, and natural erosion. The integration of these remote sensing methods with traditional archaeological approaches provides a comprehensive framework for the proactive management and conservation of cultural heritage. Our findings emphasize the importance of adopting advanced technological solutions to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of archaeological surveys, ultimately contributing to the preservation of invaluable historical and cultural resources in dynamically changing landscapes.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• Geoarchaeology Within the Context of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Today (Part One)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 50771