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Researchers from the University of Sydney and the Australian Museum, working with the Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation, used drones fitted with LiDAR to locate three previously unrecorded Aboriginal rock shelters in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. The shelters contain rock art, including red hand stencils, as well as stone tools. The study is published in the journal Remote Sensing.
Aerial survey for hostile terrain
LiDAR, for light detection and ranging, works by firing laser pulses that build highly precise 3D maps of the terrain. Mounted on a drone, it can detect ground features even beneath dense vegetation and tree cover, where the eye and conventional photographs see nothing.
In the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, the steep relief and vegetation make foot surveys long, costly and sometimes dangerous. Archaeologists were therefore able to target the most promising areas before sending teams into the field.
Three new shelters and more reliable coordinates
According to the University of Sydney, field surveys confirmed six shelters already on record and identified three previously unknown shelters containing both rock art and stone artefacts. The teams then recorded the paintings under the direction of Wayne Brennan and Erin Wilkins.
The positions obtained are far more accurate than those in the official New South Wales register, the AHIMS (Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System). This matters for site protection, since an imprecise location makes monitoring difficult.
A project built with the communities
This work is part of the Gulamada project, which aims to combine scientific knowledge with the knowledge of First Nations peoples. Wayne Brennan, an expert in Indigenous rock art and co-director of the project, describes it as "a true meeting point between science and culture".
Students and volunteers took part in the field verification, which also served as training. The project is funded by the Australian First Nations Heritage Grants programme.
A territory still little surveyed
More than 200 shelters bearing cultural and archaeological traces have been recorded in the Blue Mountains. According to Amy Mosig Way, an archaeologist at the University of Sydney and the Australian Museum, only about 10% of the region has been surveyed, owing to its difficult relief.
Jacob Bongers, digital archaeologist at the University of Sydney and first author of the study, notes that the method can be extended to other regions. The researchers plan to test it in the tropical savannahs of western Arnhem Land and in the semi-arid landscapes of western New South Wales.
Protecting sites before it is too late
Beyond the discovery, the stakes lie in protection. The sites are threatened by land development, erosion, bushfires and other risks. Faster mapping makes it possible to act before such damage occurs.
Archaeologists stress that the technology does not replace the knowledge of Aboriginal communities, but gives them an additional tool to document and manage their cultural landscapes.
Frequently asked questions
What is LiDAR in archaeology?
LiDAR is a remote sensing technique that uses laser pulses to create 3D maps of the terrain. It can reveal remains buried or hidden by vegetation. Mounted on a drone, it provides a rapid survey of terrain that is difficult to access.
Where are the Blue Mountains?
The Blue Mountains are a mountain range west of Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia. They contain more than 200 rock shelters bearing Aboriginal cultural remains. Their steep relief has long limited archaeological surveys.
What are red hand stencils?
They are motifs made by stencilling: the hand is pressed against the rock and red pigment is blown or applied around it. This type of rock art is found in several regions of Australia and attests to human presence in these shelters.
Why is this method important for Aboriginal communities?
It allows sites to be located and documented more quickly, before they are damaged by development, erosion or fire. It fits into an approach that combines scientific knowledge with Indigenous knowledge, and communities keep control of their heritage.
Sources
Original summary written with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited, checked automatically, then translated from the French original. Information and quotations belong to their authors. Read the French original.
