This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Drone-mounted laser technology is helping archaeologists locate Aboriginal rock art sites hidden in the rugged, densely vegetated landscapes of Australia's Blue Mountains, demonstrating a new approach to surveying archaeological sites that can be difficult and expensive to reach on foot. Researchers from the University of Sydney and the Australian Museum, working alongside the Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation, used drone-based LiDAR (light detection and ranging) to identify three previously unregistered Aboriginal rock shelters containing rock art and stone artifacts.
LiDAR (light detection and ranging) uses laser pulses to create detailed 3D maps of the landscape, helping researchers detect features hidden beneath dense vegetation and tree cover. The newly recorded shelters contain visually striking rock art, including red hand stencils, as well as stone artifacts. The team says the approach could help Aboriginal communities, archaeologists and heritage managers locate and protect cultural sites more efficiently across Australia.
The research is published in Remote Sensing. The work forms part of the Gulamada Project, which is built on the principle of walking side by side, bringing together scientific knowledge and First Nations cultural knowledge to better understand and care for Country. "From the outset, our vision for the Gulamada Project has been to create a true nexus of science and culture.
This work highlights the importance of listening, learning and working together," said project co-director and Indigenous rock art expert Wayne Brennan at the University of Sydney. Susan Templeman, the federal member for Macquarie, which includes the Blue Mountains, said, "This project demonstrates the power of bringing together First Nations knowledge and new technology to better understand and protect Australia's rich cultural heritage. I'm proud that the Australian government's First Nations Heritage Grants program is supporting important projects like Gulamada here in the Blue Mountains, already renowned for the extraordinary natural and cultural significance within our rugged landscapes." The drone-based field surveys confirmed the locations of six registered rock shelters and three previously unregistered shelters containing rock art and stone artifacts.
The work also produced much more accurate coordinates than those listed in the official New South Wales sites register—the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS). After the drone surveys identified potential rock shelter sites, project co-director Dr. Amy Mosig Way, a research archaeologist at the University of Sydney and the Australian Museum, led teams of students and volunteers into the field to verify the locations and assess whether the shelters contained cultural material.
Brennan and Erin Wilkins (Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation) then led the rock art recording at confirmed sites. "One of the most rewarding aspects of the Gulamada Project has been creating opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in cultural heritage research in a community-centered project," Way said. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. d research that matter—daily or weekly.
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