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Archaeological Prospection
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Advancing Cave Survey Methods: High‐Precision Mapping in Drakotrypa Cave, Greece

Authors: Christos Pennos; Fotis Georgiadis; Sofia Pechlivanidou; Rannveig Ø. Skoglund; Nenad Buzjak; Stein‐ Erik Lauritzen;

Advancing Cave Survey Methods: High‐Precision Mapping in Drakotrypa Cave, Greece

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cave floor mapping plays a vital role across various scientific disciplines by enabling the identification and interpretation of features shaped by both natural processes and human activity. In cave archaeology, floor mapping is crucial to decode and reconstruct human‐induced morphological features. However, the field has long faced significant challenges in accurately mapping the complexity of cave systems. Conventional methods often fail to capture the detail and depth of subterranean terrains or require substantial time and effort. To address these limitations, we propose a new methodology that enhances standard cave survey techniques to produce detailed floor maps in the form of point clouds. This novel approach implements easily accessible hardware (DistoX) and widespread cave survey software (PocketTopo, Therion) in combination with open source and popular GIS software (QGIS) to generate high‐precision three‐dimensional models of cave floor surfaces. We evaluate this methodology by comparing it to Apple LiDAR mapping, using Drakotrypa Cave on Thasos Island as a test site. Numerous human‐induced modifications mark the floor of this cave, which served as both a prehistoric settlement and a cult site during the Archaic and Classical periods. Our case study highlights how the proposed method can effectively reveal remnants of past human activity.

Keywords

LiDAR, Thasos Island, Greece, cave archaeology, North Aegean Sea, DistoX, cave floor survey, GIS, point cloud

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
hybrid