Researchers used drone LiDAR to scan rugged Australian bushland that is difficult to search on foot; the technology led them to three previously unregistered Aboriginal rock shelters with red hand stencils

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 shelters

The 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 Mountains, where steep terrain and dense vegetation can make traditional archaeological surveys difficult, expensive and time-consuming.LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. The technology sends laser pulses towards the ground and measures their return to build detailed three-dimensional maps of the landscape. Researchers analyse these maps to identify landforms and potential rock shelters, which are then checked through field surveys.The aerial survey identified potential locations, which researchers then visited to verify the findings. The fieldwork was led by project co-director Dr Amy Mosig Way, a research archaeologist at the University of Sydney and the Australian Museum. Students and volunteers helped assess the shelters for cultural material, while rock art recording was led by Wayne Brennan and Erin Wilkins of the Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation.

What the researchers found in the Blue Mountains

The field surveys confirmed the locations of six registered rock shelters and identified three previously unregistered shelters containing rock art and stone artefacts. Among the most notable discoveries were red hand stencils, traces of Aboriginal artistic expression preserved on rock surfaces. The findings also addressed a separate problem with existing heritage records. The researchers obtained more accurate geographical coordinates for known shelters than those recorded in New South Wales’ Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS), the state’s official register of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.According to the University of Sydney, more than 200 rock shelters containing cultural and archaeological evidence have been recorded across the Blue Mountains. However, Dr Way estimates that only around 10% of the region has been surveyed because its rugged terrain makes systematic exploration challenging. The new approach could help researchers identify additional sites in areas that have received limited archaeological attention.

Why the discovery matters for Aboriginal heritage

The research is part of the Gulamada Project, which brings scientific research together with First Nations cultural knowledge. Its guiding principle is to work side by side with Aboriginal communities to better understand and care for Country, a term that encompasses connections to ancestral lands, waters, culture and community. This collaboration is central to the project. The technology helps identify possible locations, but researchers still need to visit sites, verify the evidence and record cultural material with the involvement of Aboriginal custodians. The process combines aerial mapping with archaeological investigation and community knowledge.The project received $248,610 through Round 1 of the Australian Government’s First Nations Heritage Grants program, administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The program supports on-Country projects led by First Nations people to identify, document and protect heritage in existing World and National Heritage-listed places.

Could drone LiDAR help uncover more sites?

The study’s findings suggest that drone-based LiDAR could make heritage surveys more targeted and efficient, particularly in landscapes where reaching every potential site on foot would be difficult. It could also help improve the accuracy of existing archaeological records, giving heritage managers better information about where sites are located. The researchers believe the approach could eventually be adapted to other parts of Australia. Planned future work includes testing the method in the tropical savannahs of western Arnhem Land and the semi-arid landscapes of western New South Wales.Finding and recording previously undocumented shelters could also help communities protect them from threats such as development, erosion and bushfires. The discovery does not mean that all hidden sites can be found using drones alone, but it demonstrates how remote sensing can complement ground surveys and traditional knowledge.By identifying three previously unregistered shelters, the project demonstrates how remote sensing can complement ground surveys and Aboriginal cultural knowledge, helping expand the archaeological record and support the protection of cultural landscapes for future generations.