UGA Laboratory of Archaeology Speaker Series

Join the final installment of the 2021-2022 UGA Laboratory of Archaeology Speaker Series: The Intersection of Archaeological Science and Tribal Perspectives with "LiDAR, Remote Sensing, and Archaeology." Join Dr. Tim Murtha and Dr. Whit Schroder, from the University of Florida, with LeeAnne Wendt, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, as a discussant. Registration is required: https://bit.ly/3CXda95

For this webinar, the group will present recent advancements in remote sensing and archaeology, including a specific focus on LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) for archaeological site identification, documentation, and landscape archaeology. Airborne, spaceborne, and more recently UAV mounted LiDAR systems provide high precision systems for quickly and accurately mapping archaeological sites and features. As these data become more common in archaeological science, critical questions about data access, availability, and accessibility have emerged. The presentation will first summarize the various forms of newly available advanced remote sensing data, with an emphasis on LiDAR. They will then demonstrate how these data capture complex site-based information, how data are processed, and exhibit a variety of ways these data are being used in archaeological research and conservation. They will also summarize and describe how these data can be used for addressing broader archaeological and anthropological questions about the past, while sharing useful resources for cultural resource managers. Finally, they will introduce some of the ethical and serious preservation considerations that are introduced by these new data and how data can be leveraged for long-term preservation of cultural heritage. As sensors become more cost-effective, the use and application of LiDAR and other remote sensing products are opening the door to rapid documentation and intimate information about archaeological landscapes once previously inaccessible. The promise of these data needs to be coupled with rigorous methods and community engagement to best study, manage, and preserve cultural heritage.

"The Intersection of Archaeological Science and Tribal Perspectives" 2021-2022 series will include presentations regarding the basics of several specialized archaeological science techniques and how those can intersect with tribal perspectives regarding sampling, destructive analysis, consultation, and NAGPRA. Each lecture will conclude with input from various tribal discussants from the Muscogee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Seminole Tribe of Florida. This series is for students and professionals who would like to just learn about some of the specialized methods employed in archaeological investigations and how they can be better integrated with tribal interests.