Archaeologists using a DJI M350 drone equipped with a LiDAR laser sensor have discovered three previously unrecorded rock shelters and a set of red hand stencils in Australia’s Blue Mountains near Sydney, the University of Sydney announced on October 25, 2026.
Mapping Hidden Terrain Beneath the Canopy
The research team deployed remote-sensing technology to scan approximately 1,057 square kilometers of rugged terrain. LiDAR sensors emit laser pulses toward the Earth’s surface and measure the reflected light. This process generates three-dimensional point clouds that reveal landforms hidden beneath dense tree canopies.
The investigators combined high-resolution drone imagery with broader public airborne laser data. A specialized software program flagged potential rock overhangs across the vast study area. The team first examined these digital hits on screen before conducting targeted on-site inspections.
Out of 19 digitally selected candidates, every single location proved to be a genuine shelter, overhang, or similar depression. However, researchers caution that this does not mean all automated hits represent actual archaeological sites.
Drone LiDAR finds hidden rock shelters and rock art in AustraliaWalking the Blue Mountains west of Sydney is hard work. Sandstone cliffs, thick eucalyptus forest and deep valleys hide many rock shelters, and crews on foot miss a lot of them..More info: https://t.co/XQIBaa28BU
Dr. Jacob L. Bongers explained that the work is exciting because it enables an efficient and accurate search for sites in difficult terrain whose exploration is notoriously tedious, expensive, and time-consuming.
New Rock Art and Artifacts Documented
During field inspections, archaeologists documented three previously unregistered rock shelters bearing traces of human use. The first shelter contained three larger stone artifacts. The second yielded 21 artifacts, and the third contained 26.
One of these newly discovered sites also featured a rock drawing: two red hand stencils positioned directly next to each other across an area measuring approximately 35 by 15 centimeters. One left hand and one right hand rest side by side. Researchers suspect the same individual produced both impressions during a single session. The team did not determine the age of the paintings during this phase of the study.
Collaboration with Indigenous Partners
The technical survey was conducted in direct partnership with the Dharug community. Members of the indigenous partner organization participated in selecting the study areas and documenting the rock art.
Out of respect for cultural protocols and at the explicit request of the Dharug participants, the study’s authors have withheld exact site coordinates and photographs of the discovered rock art and artifacts.
Wayne Brennan of the University of Sydney stated that from the very beginning, they wanted to truly connect science and culture with the Gulamada Project, and that the work demonstrates the importance of listening, learning, and collaboration.
Correcting Historical Heritage Records
In addition to new discoveries, the field checks confirmed six previously registered rock shelters. The fresh LiDAR measurements generated more accurate position data for these locations than older entries in the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS), the official cultural heritage register for New South Wales.
Inaccurate historical coordinates often complicate efforts to relocate and monitor protected sites. The new remote-sensing approach offers a mechanism to correct legacy database errors. Improved location data makes it easier to monitor vulnerable rock art and protect sites threatened by erosion, bushfires, or construction.
The research team acknowledges that the digital search method still requires further calibration. Because investigators focused exclusively on high-probability targets marked by software, they could not measure the rate of false positives or quantify how many shelters the algorithm missed. Furthermore, the search criteria were tailored specifically to the sandstone landscapes of the Blue Mountains, meaning other regions with different vegetation and terrain will require customized adjustments.
Researchers plan to test the methodology alongside indigenous communities in northern and western Australia. While laser scanning cannot replace boots-on-the-ground archaeological surveys, it provides a tool to direct scarce resources toward undocumented cultural heritage sites before they suffer environmental damage.
