Drone LiDAR reveals three unregistered Aboriginal rock shelters in Australia's rugged Blue Mountains

Drone LiDAR reveals three unregistered Aboriginal rock shelters in Australia's rugged Blue Mountains (Image Credit: University of Sydney) Researchers have used drone-based laser scanning to identify and document three previously unregistered Aboriginal rock shelters in Australia's Blue Mountains, revealing traces of cultural heritage in rugged bushland that is difficult to explore on foot. According to the Australian Museum, the research team worked with the Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation to identify potential sites using LiDAR technology. Subsequent field visits confirmed rock shelters containing red hand stencils and stone artefacts. The findings, published in the journal Remote Sensing, highlight how aerial mapping can help Aboriginal communities and archaeologists locate, document and protect cultural heritage that might otherwise remain unrecorded.How drone technology helped locate the sheltersThe research brought together archaeologists from the University of Sydney's Vere Gordon Childe Centre and the Australian Museum, working alongside the Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation. The team used drones equipped with LiDAR sensors to scan sections of the Blue Mountain...