Animation at the University of Arkansas

Archaeological Laser Scanning: New Technologies for the Ancient World

Archaeological excavation and preservation are long standing practices with standardized methods, but with new technologies emerging the standards are changing. One new technology, called terrestrial laser scanning, allows for non-invasive, centimeter accurate recording of large scale structures in an x,y,z coordinate system. This non-invasive method is suitable for use on ancient structures and surveying as-built structures. Recently this method was tested on the ruins of Tiwanaku , Bolivia and Macchu Picchu , Peru through a NSF grant for the University of Pennsylvania and the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST), University of Arkansas . Researchers were sent to scan these sites to obtain accurate recordings of the structures. These were completed are being used for archival preservation and to look at new methodologies that can help archaeologists answer age old questions about the site.

Laser scan of the Kalasasaya at the Tiwanaku ruins in Boliva.

Photograph of the same area of the Kalasasaya.

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