LiDAR archaeology Drone Guide

LiDAR has become one of the most valuable remote-sensing technologies available to archaeologists. When mounted on a drone, LiDAR can rapidly collect millions of three-dimensional measurements across landscapes, ruins, earthworks, forests and excavation areas, creating detailed digital models that can reveal features that are difficult or impossible to recognise from the ground.

The technology is particularly powerful in environments where vegetation hides the shape of the terrain. A conventional aerial photograph may show only trees and undergrowth, while LiDAR can record enough laser returns through gaps in the canopy to help reconstruct the underlying ground surface. This can expose subtle changes in elevation associated with ancient roads, walls, terraces, building platforms, burial mounds, field systems and other archaeological features.

Drones add another advantage: resolution. Crewed aircraft and satellite LiDAR can cover enormous areas, but drones can fly lower and collect very dense point clouds across specific archaeological sites. This makes them particularly useful for detailed surveys, research projects and repeat documentation.

LiDAR does not automatically discover archaeology. It creates a detailed three-dimensional representation of the landscape that archaeologists interpret alongside historical records, excavation evidence, photography and other geophysical techniques.

What Is LiDAR?

LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. The system sends laser pulses towards the ground or surrounding objects and measures how long the reflected energy takes to return to the sensor.

By combining those measurements with the position and orientation of the drone, software calculates the three-dimensional coordinates of large numbers of points.

These points form what is known as a point cloud.

A single archaeological survey can contain millions or billions of points representing terrain, vegetation, walls, buildings and other visible surfaces.

Why LiDAR Is Valuable for Archaeology

Many archaeological features are not obvious from ground level.

A wall may have collapsed until only a small ridge remains. An old road may appear as a shallow depression, while former agricultural terraces may produce subtle elevation changes across a hillside.

LiDAR captures the geometry of these surfaces with far greater consistency than conventional visual observation.

Once vegetation and other objects are classified appropriately, archaeologists can analyse the underlying terrain and identify patterns that deserve further investigation.

Archaeology Under Forest Canopy

Forested landscapes are one of the strongest applications for LiDAR archaeology.

Trees can hide archaeological features from normal aerial photography. Dense vegetation may also make fieldwalking slow or difficult.

LiDAR pulses can sometimes reach the ground through gaps between branches and leaves. By separating vegetation returns from ground returns, software can generate a terrain model showing the shape of the land beneath the canopy.

This can reveal archaeological landscapes that would otherwise remain difficult to recognise.

Discovering Ancient Settlements

Ancient settlements may leave subtle terrain signatures long after buildings have disappeared.

Foundations, platforms, streets, defensive banks and drainage systems can all influence ground shape.

A drone LiDAR survey can reveal geometric patterns that may indicate human construction.

These potential features can then be investigated using ground survey, historical research or excavation.

Ancient Road Detection

Old roads often remain visible as shallow embankments, depressions or linear changes in terrain.

LiDAR is particularly good at revealing these long, continuous features.

Hillshade and slope visualisations can make former road alignments easier to see.

Mapping ancient routes can also help archaeologists understand how settlements, agricultural areas and other sites were connected.

Roman Roads

Roman roads are a strong example because many followed relatively direct alignments and incorporated substantial engineered structures.

Even where the visible road surface has disappeared, embankments or cuttings may remain.

LiDAR can help trace these features through woodland or across changing terrain.

Ground confirmation remains necessary because drainage channels, modern tracks and natural features can sometimes produce similar patterns.

Burial Mounds

Burial mounds and other prehistoric earthworks may survive only as relatively small changes in elevation.

Dense LiDAR datasets can make these forms more visible.

Archaeologists can map the dimensions and distribution of possible mounds across larger landscapes.

Potential discoveries should then be assessed professionally before excavation or classification.

Defensive Earthworks

Hillforts, ditches, embankments and defensive boundaries can extend over large areas.

From ground level, vegetation and topography can make the overall geometry difficult to understand.

A drone LiDAR model provides a complete three-dimensional view.

This can reveal entrances, layered defences and relationships between structures much more clearly.

Agricultural Terraces

Historical farming can leave terraces and field boundaries that remain visible centuries later.

These features may be hidden by forest or later vegetation.

LiDAR terrain models can reveal repeated parallel patterns and changes in slope.

This information helps archaeologists reconstruct how historical communities managed agricultural landscapes.

Ancient Field Systems

Banks, ditches and field boundaries can form extensive archaeological landscapes.

LiDAR allows these features to be mapped over larger areas than individual excavation trenches.

The resulting data can show how settlements, agricultural zones and roads relate to one another.

This landscape-scale perspective is one of LiDAR’s greatest archaeological strengths.

Building Foundations

Stone or earth foundations may produce slight changes in terrain after structures disappear.

High-density drone LiDAR can identify rectangular or geometric patterns consistent with former buildings.

The survey can help archaeologists decide where detailed ground investigation should concentrate.

LiDAR does not reveal buried foundations that produce no surface expression, so other geophysical methods may still be required.

Ruins and Standing Archaeology

LiDAR is also useful where archaeological structures remain above ground.

Walls, temples, castles and ruins can be scanned in three dimensions.

The resulting point cloud preserves detailed geometry that can support conservation, measurement and digital documentation.

Repeat surveys can also help identify structural changes.

Castle and Fortification Mapping

Historic castles and fortifications often contain walls, towers, ditches and complex terrain.

Drone LiDAR can capture both the standing structure and surrounding landscape.

This allows archaeologists to study the relationship between defensive architecture and topography.

The dataset can also support restoration and heritage management.

Lost Settlements

Some abandoned settlements are difficult to recognise because vegetation or later land use has obscured them.

LiDAR can reveal networks of building platforms, tracks and field boundaries.

Instead of identifying one structure in isolation, archaeologists may see an entire settlement pattern.

This can fundamentally change the understanding of historical population and land use.

Jungle Archaeology

Tropical environments represent some of the most dramatic applications of LiDAR.

Dense forest can hide extensive archaeological landscapes.

Airborne LiDAR has previously shown that ancient urban systems can extend far beyond the visible monumental structures known from ground archaeology.

Drones can provide higher-resolution follow-up surveys over selected areas identified during broader investigations.

Desert Archaeology

Desert landscapes present different challenges.

Vegetation may be limited, but erosion, sand movement and subtle topography can hide archaeological remains.

LiDAR can provide precise terrain mapping and structural documentation.

Repeated surveys may also help researchers understand erosion or site degradation over time.

Coastal Archaeology

Coastal archaeological sites can be threatened by erosion, storms and sea-level change.

Drone LiDAR can create detailed terrain models of cliffs, dunes and exposed structures.

Repeat surveys allow archaeologists to measure how quickly the landscape is changing.

This information can help prioritise documentation and conservation work.

River Valley Archaeology

Many historical settlements developed around rivers.

LiDAR can map terraces, former channels, embankments and archaeological features across river valleys.

Understanding the historical landscape can help researchers interpret settlement location, agriculture and transportation.

It can also reveal how environmental change affected archaeological sites.

Industrial Archaeology

LiDAR is not limited to ancient archaeology.

Historical mines, railways, factories, canals and other industrial sites can also be mapped.

Old foundations, spoil heaps, tramways and transport routes may be visible within terrain models.

This creates a detailed record of industrial landscapes that may otherwise be gradually lost.

Battlefield Archaeology

Historical battlefields can contain earthworks, trenches and other landscape features.

LiDAR can map terrain across the wider battlefield without disturbing the site.

This provides context for archaeological and historical analysis.

Any investigation involving human remains, military heritage or protected sites requires appropriate legal and ethical procedures.

World War Trenches

Historical trench systems may remain visible as shallow linear depressions.

Dense vegetation can make these difficult to map conventionally.

LiDAR terrain models can reveal trench networks and associated earthworks.

This can support heritage documentation and historical research.

Excavation Site Mapping

LiDAR is useful during active archaeological excavation as well as landscape discovery.

A drone can record excavation trenches and surrounding terrain in three dimensions.

Repeat flights document how the excavation changes as new layers are exposed.

This creates a detailed digital record of the archaeological process.

Recording Excavation Progress

Archaeological excavation is destructive in the sense that layers are removed as research progresses.

Accurate documentation is therefore essential.

LiDAR and photogrammetry can preserve three-dimensional records at different excavation stages.

Researchers can later revisit these digital models even after the physical layer has been removed.

Point Clouds

The fundamental LiDAR output is the point cloud.

Each point contains three-dimensional position information and may also include intensity or classification attributes.

Archaeologists can view the point cloud directly or convert it into other datasets.

Point clouds are particularly valuable because they preserve much of the original geometric information collected during the survey.

Ground Classification

LiDAR surveys contain returns from vegetation, buildings and terrain.

Software can classify these points into different categories.

For archaeology beneath vegetation, ground classification is especially important because the objective is to isolate the underlying terrain.

Incorrect classification can either remove archaeological features or leave vegetation artefacts in the model, so quality control is essential.

Digital Terrain Models

A Digital Terrain Model represents the underlying ground surface after vegetation and other above-ground objects have been filtered.

This is one of the most useful archaeological LiDAR products.

Subtle earthworks become easier to interpret when the vegetation has been removed digitally.

The model can be analysed using several visualisation techniques.

Digital Surface Models

A Digital Surface Model represents the top visible surface, including vegetation and structures.

For standing ruins or archaeological buildings, this can also be valuable.

Comparing surface and terrain models helps researchers understand both landscape and existing structures.

Different archaeological questions require different model types.

Hillshade Visualisation

Hillshade simulates how light would fall across a terrain model from a chosen direction.

Small banks and depressions can become much easier to see because shadows emphasise changes in elevation.

However, features aligned with the simulated light direction may become less visible.

Archaeologists often examine several hillshade directions rather than relying on one image.

Multi-Directional Hillshade

Multi-directional hillshade combines illumination from several directions.

This reduces the chance that an archaeological feature disappears because of the chosen lighting angle.

The resulting terrain image often provides a more balanced overview.

It is widely useful for interpreting subtle archaeological earthworks.

Slope Analysis

Slope maps show how quickly terrain elevation changes.

Artificial banks, ditches and terraces may produce distinctive slope patterns.

Combining slope analysis with hillshade can help archaeologists identify potential features.

Interpretation remains important because natural erosion can create similar forms.

Local Relief Models

Local relief visualisation removes broader terrain variation and emphasises small local elevation differences.

This can be particularly useful on sloping landscapes where subtle archaeological features would otherwise be hidden by the overall topography.

Small embankments and depressions can become much clearer.

Several archaeological LiDAR workflows use this technique.

Sky-View Factor

Sky-view factor is another terrain visualisation method that describes how much of the sky would be visible from each terrain location.

It can emphasise subtle depressions and raised features.

Using several visualisation approaches together often provides better archaeological interpretation than relying on one model.

Different features may appear more clearly under different techniques.

Archaeological Feature Detection

Traditionally, archaeologists inspect LiDAR models manually and identify patterns that look potentially significant.

AI and automated image analysis are increasingly being explored to assist with this process.

Computer vision can highlight geometric or terrain features that resemble known archaeological structures.

Human archaeological review remains critical because natural terrain and modern infrastructure can create false detections.

AI Archaeological Detection

AI models can be trained on known archaeological features such as mounds, terraces or building platforms.

They can then search larger LiDAR datasets for similar patterns.

This can reduce the amount of manual screening required across extensive areas.

The technology works best as a prioritisation tool, directing archaeologists towards candidate features for professional interpretation.

Change Detection

Repeated LiDAR surveys can measure how archaeological sites change.

Erosion, vegetation growth, construction or natural disasters may alter the landscape.

Comparing point clouds or terrain models from different dates can identify these changes.

This is particularly useful for conservation and site-management programmes.

Heritage Conservation

Archaeological sites can deteriorate over time.

LiDAR provides highly detailed baseline documentation.

If parts of a structure later collapse or erode, the earlier model preserves its previous geometry.

This digital record can support restoration planning and academic research.

Monitoring Erosion

Erosion is a major threat to archaeological sites.

Coastal cliffs, riverbanks and exposed landscapes can change rapidly.

Repeat drone LiDAR surveys allow researchers to calculate where material has been lost.

This can help heritage organisations identify sites requiring urgent intervention.

Vegetation Management

Vegetation can physically damage archaeological structures and make monitoring difficult.

LiDAR surveys can document both vegetation and underlying terrain.

Site managers can identify areas where trees or dense growth are affecting heritage assets.

Later surveys can assess the result of vegetation-management programmes.

Archaeological Site Boundaries

LiDAR can help researchers understand that an archaeological site extends far beyond previously recognised visible structures.

Roads, field systems and peripheral buildings may all become apparent.

This can influence heritage-protection boundaries and planning decisions.

However, legal site designation remains the responsibility of appropriate heritage authorities.

GIS Integration

LiDAR datasets become particularly powerful when incorporated into Geographic Information Systems.

Potential archaeological features can be mapped alongside historical maps, excavation records, aerial photographs and modern infrastructure.

Researchers can analyse spatial relationships and compare evidence from multiple sources.

GIS provides the central environment in which these datasets can be interpreted together.

Historical Map Comparison

Old maps can be georeferenced and compared with LiDAR terrain models.

A historical road or building shown on a map may correspond with a subtle feature visible in the terrain.

Conversely, LiDAR may reveal structures absent from historical records.

This comparison helps archaeologists build a more complete understanding of site development.

Aerial Photography Integration

Historical aerial photographs provide another valuable dataset.

Features that were visible decades ago may now be covered by vegetation or development.

LiDAR can help reconnect those older observations with current terrain.

Combining multiple generations of imagery creates a richer archaeological record.

Multispectral Imaging

LiDAR is often used alongside multispectral drone imagery.

Vegetation growing above buried archaeological features can sometimes develop differently because of changes in soil depth or moisture.

These crop or vegetation marks may appear in multispectral imagery.

LiDAR contributes the terrain information, while multispectral data provides another type of archaeological evidence.

Thermal Imaging

Thermal imagery can sometimes reveal differences in soil or structural materials under suitable conditions.

A drone carrying both thermal and LiDAR sensors can provide several complementary datasets.

Thermal observations are highly dependent on environmental timing.

They should be interpreted within a specialist archaeological remote-sensing workflow.

Ground-Penetrating Radar Integration

LiDAR only maps surfaces that the laser can reach. It does not penetrate soil to reveal deeply buried structures.

Ground-Penetrating Radar can provide information about subsurface features.

Combining LiDAR with GPR allows archaeologists to connect the visible landscape with buried archaeology.

The technologies are complementary rather than competing.

Magnetometry Integration

Magnetometry can detect certain buried archaeological features through variations in the magnetic field.

LiDAR provides accurate terrain and geographic context.

Potential structures identified in one dataset can be compared with anomalies in another.

Multi-sensor archaeology often produces much stronger interpretations than any one survey technique.

Photogrammetry vs LiDAR

Photogrammetry creates three-dimensional models from overlapping photographs.

It can produce highly detailed surface models and realistic textures at relatively low cost.

LiDAR has an advantage when vegetation is present because some laser pulses may reach the ground through canopy gaps.

For open excavation sites or standing structures, both technologies can be extremely useful.

Combining LiDAR and Photogrammetry

Some archaeological projects collect both LiDAR and RGB imagery during the same survey.

LiDAR provides precise geometry, while photographs provide detailed colour and texture.

The datasets can be combined to create realistic three-dimensional models.

This is particularly valuable for heritage documentation and public presentation.

RTK and PPK Positioning

Accurate drone positioning improves the geographic quality of archaeological surveys.

RTK or PPK can provide centimetre-level positioning under suitable conditions.

This helps ensure that LiDAR datasets align with archaeological excavation grids, GIS and previous surveys.

Ground control or checkpoints may still be used for verification.

IMU Quality

LiDAR mapping depends not only on GNSS but also on accurate knowledge of the drone’s orientation.

The inertial measurement unit records changes in roll, pitch and heading.

Small orientation errors can create larger position errors in the point cloud.

High-quality LiDAR systems therefore depend heavily on accurate GNSS and inertial navigation.

Point Density

Point density describes how many LiDAR measurements are collected across a given area.

Higher density can reveal finer terrain detail, but it also increases data volume.

The appropriate density depends on the archaeological feature being investigated.

Small earthworks require different survey parameters from broad landscape mapping.

Flight Altitude

Lower flight altitude generally produces greater point density and potentially finer detail.

However, it reduces the area covered during each flight.

Higher flights provide greater efficiency but less detail.

Archaeologists should determine the smallest feature of interest before deciding the survey altitude.

Flight Speed

Slower flight can increase measurement density because the LiDAR collects more points over each part of the landscape.

However, slower surveys require more flight time and battery capacity.

The correct speed depends on sensor performance, terrain and the required output.

Consistency is important for professional archaeological mapping.

Multi-Return LiDAR

Some LiDAR sensors can record multiple returns from a single laser pulse.

The first return may come from the tree canopy, while later returns may come from branches or the ground.

This capability is valuable in vegetation because it increases the chance of obtaining terrain information below the canopy.

The effectiveness still depends on vegetation density and sensor characteristics.

Dense Forest Limitations

LiDAR is powerful in forests, but it is not magic.

Extremely dense vegetation may prevent enough pulses from reaching the ground.

This can create gaps or uncertainty in the terrain model.

Survey timing can help. In deciduous environments, flying during leaf-off conditions may significantly improve ground visibility.

Leaf-Off Surveys

Where forests are deciduous, winter or early spring surveys can reduce foliage and increase the number of ground returns.

This often produces better archaeological terrain models.

Seasonal planning can therefore be just as important as selecting the sensor.

The optimal survey period depends on vegetation type and local environment.

Large-Area Archaeological Surveys

Drones are best suited to local and regional archaeological mapping.

Extremely large areas may be more efficiently surveyed using crewed airborne LiDAR.

A broad aircraft survey can identify areas of interest, followed by detailed drone LiDAR missions.

This hierarchical approach combines scale with high resolution.

Fixed-Wing LiDAR Drones

Fixed-wing drones can cover larger archaeological landscapes than multirotors.

They provide greater endurance and efficient forward flight.

Payload capacity and sensor integration need to be appropriate for LiDAR equipment.

Their main advantage is coverage rather than hovering capability.

Multirotor LiDAR Drones

Multirotors are extremely useful for detailed archaeological LiDAR because they can fly slowly and follow terrain closely.

They can operate from small clearings and maintain controlled flight paths around ruins or complex terrain.

Their main limitation is endurance.

For high-resolution site surveys, however, precision often matters more than maximum range.

Hybrid VTOL LiDAR Drones

Hybrid VTOL aircraft can combine longer flight endurance with vertical take-off and landing.

They may be useful for archaeological landscapes where larger coverage is needed but runways are unavailable.

As LiDAR payloads become lighter, these platforms may become increasingly attractive for heritage surveys.

Underground and Cave Archaeology

Standard aerial drones cannot map underground archaeology from the air.

However, specialist indoor drones carrying LiDAR can operate in suitable caves, tunnels and underground structures.

They can create three-dimensional models where GNSS is unavailable.

Navigation, lighting and communications become significantly more challenging in these environments.

Cave Mapping

LiDAR-equipped indoor drones can document cave geometry without requiring a surveyor to physically reach every chamber.

This can support archaeological research where caves contain historical or prehistoric evidence.

The point cloud creates a permanent digital representation.

Human archaeological investigation remains necessary to interpret the cultural material.

Digital Preservation

One of the most important long-term benefits of LiDAR is digital preservation.

An archaeological site may be damaged by erosion, development, natural disaster or climate change.

A detailed point cloud preserves its geometry at a particular moment in time.

Future researchers can continue analysing that digital record even if the physical site changes.

Virtual Archaeology

Three-dimensional archaeological models can be used for research, education and public engagement.

Visitors can explore virtual reconstructions of sites that are inaccessible or fragile.

LiDAR provides the accurate geometric foundation for these experiences.

Textures and historical reconstructions can then be added to make the model easier to interpret.

Museum and Heritage Presentation

Museums can use LiDAR models to show archaeological sites within exhibitions.

Interactive models allow visitors to understand landscapes from viewpoints impossible during a normal site visit.

This can also reduce pressure on fragile archaeological locations.

Digital heritage therefore becomes an additional benefit of the original survey investment.

Excavation Planning

LiDAR does not tell archaeologists exactly where to excavate, but it can significantly improve planning.

Potential structures and earthworks can be mapped before trenches are opened.

This allows excavation resources to concentrate on the most informative areas.

The survey also provides a landscape context for discoveries made during excavation.

Reducing Unnecessary Disturbance

Archaeology often seeks to understand sites while preserving as much as possible.

Remote sensing can reduce the need for exploratory excavation purely to determine whether a feature exists.

LiDAR, geophysics and other technologies can identify areas of interest before physical disturbance occurs.

This supports a more targeted and conservation-oriented approach.

Archaeological Ethics

The discovery of archaeological sites can create risks as well as opportunities.

Publishing precise coordinates may encourage illegal digging, looting or unauthorised access.

Researchers and drone service providers should therefore consider how sensitive location data is handled.

Heritage authorities and archaeologists should determine what information is appropriate to release publicly.

Protected Sites

Many archaeological sites are legally protected.

Drone flights may require permission from landowners, heritage authorities or aviation regulators.

Physical access and excavation may require separate archaeological permits.

The fact that a drone can technically survey an area does not mean it should be surveyed without the appropriate approvals.

Indigenous and Culturally Sensitive Sites

Some archaeological landscapes have continuing cultural or spiritual importance.

Drone surveys should involve appropriate consultation with relevant communities and authorities.

Data ownership and publication may also require careful consideration.

Technology should support respectful archaeological research rather than override cultural concerns.

Data Volume

LiDAR generates very large datasets.

High-density surveys can contain billions of points and require significant storage and computing resources.

Professional projects should plan for data backup, processing and long-term archiving.

The raw point cloud may remain valuable for future analyses that were not anticipated when the survey was originally completed.

Cloud Processing

Cloud platforms can provide the computing power required for large LiDAR datasets.

Point-cloud classification and terrain modelling can be performed remotely.

This can simplify collaboration between drone operators and archaeologists.

Sensitive archaeological-location data should still be protected through appropriate access controls.

AI and Automated Feature Discovery

One of the most exciting future areas is automated archaeological feature detection.

AI can analyse terrain models and identify patterns that resemble mounds, terraces, walls or other known structures.

Large landscapes that would take archaeologists months to inspect manually could be screened more quickly.

AI-generated candidates would then be reviewed by archaeologists and verified in the field.

Benefits of LiDAR Archaeology Drones

The main advantage is the ability to see landscape geometry in exceptional detail.

LiDAR can reveal subtle archaeological features and provide terrain information beneath some vegetation.

Drones make high-density surveys accessible across smaller and medium-sized sites without requiring crewed aviation.

The resulting point clouds also provide permanent digital records that can be analysed repeatedly.

Challenges and Limitations

LiDAR does not directly reveal objects buried deep beneath the ground.

Dense vegetation can still prevent sufficient ground returns, while processing quality strongly affects the final terrain model.

The equipment is also more expensive and technically demanding than standard RGB mapping.

Most importantly, not every unusual terrain feature is archaeological. Geological formations, drainage and modern land use can produce similar patterns.

Professional archaeological interpretation remains essential.

The Future of Drone LiDAR Archaeology

The future of archaeological LiDAR is likely to involve much greater integration between multiple sensors and artificial intelligence.

A drone could collect LiDAR, RGB and multispectral imagery during the same mission. The LiDAR model would reveal terrain geometry, while imagery provides colour, vegetation and surface information.

AI could screen the resulting terrain for potential archaeological features and assign candidate locations for human review.

Researchers could then combine these results with historical maps, magnetometry and ground-penetrating radar before deciding whether physical excavation is justified.

Repeat surveys will also become increasingly important for heritage protection. Coastal, desert and mountain sites can be monitored regularly to identify erosion or damage.

As LiDAR sensors become smaller and more affordable, archaeological organisations will be able to collect extremely detailed three-dimensional datasets more frequently.

The biggest change will be a shift from viewing archaeology only as individual excavated sites towards understanding entire historical landscapes digitally.

Conclusion

LiDAR archaeology is one of the most powerful mapping applications for professional drones.

By collecting millions of three-dimensional measurements, drone-mounted LiDAR can reveal subtle terrain features associated with settlements, ancient roads, terraces, burial mounds, defensive earthworks and historical field systems.

Its greatest advantage is in vegetated environments, where laser pulses may reach the ground through gaps in the canopy and allow archaeologists to model terrain hidden beneath forests.

Point clouds can be converted into Digital Terrain Models, hillshades, slope maps and other visualisations that make archaeological features easier to recognise. GIS allows these observations to be compared with historical maps, photographs and excavation records.

LiDAR does not replace archaeologists, excavation or subsurface geophysical methods. It cannot automatically determine whether a terrain feature is ancient or even human-made.

Its strength is discovery, documentation and context.

For archaeologists, universities, heritage agencies, museums and professional drone survey companies, LiDAR-equipped drones provide a powerful method of discovering hidden landscapes, documenting fragile sites and creating detailed digital records that can preserve archaeological information for future generations.