Copán Maya site to undergo 3D LiDAR mapping via drones

Archaeologists are launching a new three-dimensional mapping project at the Copán Maya Archaeological Site in Honduras using LiDAR technology. This advanced laser detection method will be deployed via unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) flying at altitudes between 80 and 100 meters to scan the 25-square-kilometer area.

This initiative serves as a major update to the last comprehensive survey conducted approximately 50 years ago, when researchers had to manually traverse the valley to identify structures. The new technology allows researchers to see through dense vegetation to identify small mounds, altars, and platforms that are difficult to detect with the naked eye.

Japanese archaeologist Seiichi Nakamura, who has worked in the region for decades, noted that the project aims to compare current findings with the 3,588 structures recorded half a century ago. The study seeks to identify previously undetected sites, assess how many structures have been lost to agriculture or construction, and provide a more precise understanding of the valley's archaeological landscape.