Mapping Ancient Architecture via Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle–acquired LiDAR: A Case Study of Hōlualoa Royal Centre, Kona District, Hawai‘i Island

Authors

Keywords:

archaeology, ancient architecture, royal centres, UAV LiDAR, Hawaiian Islands

Abstract

At present there is no systematic record of the size, form or density of architecture at Hawaiian royal centres. We report on the results of a UAV LiDAR survey of one of the best-preserved examples of a royal centre in the archipelago: Hōlualoa Royal Centre, Kona District, Hawai‘i Island. The resolution of our data (0.3–0.1 m) is far superior to previous airborne LiDAR surveys (1.0 m); however, several factors, including thick understory vegetation, made resolving archaeological targets challenging. We nonetheless were able measure the volume of building material of the largest features, which allows us to compare structures in this royal centre with other monuments in the region. This study highlights the advantages, and limitations, of UAV LiDAR as well as the need for more high-quality quantitative data on architecture at royal centres.

Author Biographies

Mark D. McCoy, Southern Methodist University

Mark D. McCoy, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Southern Methodist University since 2014, is an anthropological archaeologist whose research centres on the development of ancient societies on Pacific islands and the relationship between people and their island environments. He is an expert in the use of geospatial technology in archaeology, including geographic information systems, laser scanning and remote sensing. His recent book Maps for Time Travelers: How Archaeologists Use Technology to Bring Us Closer to the Past combines his love of archaeology with his love of science fiction and was chosen for the 2021 Book Award (Popular) by the Society for American Archaeology.

Jesse Casana, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire

Jesse Casana, Professor of Anthropology at Dartmouth College, is an archaeologist whose research investigates settlement and land use history, the emergence and development of complex societies, and the dynamic interactions of humans with their environment.

Austin Chad Hill, University of Pennsylvania

Austin Chad Hill, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, is an expert in the later prehistory of the Near East, with specialisations in remote sensing, GIS, advanced image processing and faunal analysis.

Elise Jakoby Laugier, Rutgers University

Elise Jakoby Laugier, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Anthropology at Rutgers University, is an environmental archaeologist researching long-term human–environment relationships using geospatial, geochemical and micro-botanical approaches.

Thegn N. Ladefoged, University of Auckland | Te Pūnaha Matatini

Thegn N. Ladefoged is a Professor of Archaeology at Waipapa Taumata Rau| University of Auckland and principal investigator at Te Pūnaha Matatini. Incorporating a landscape perspective and spatial technology his research focuses on ecodynamics, agricultural developments and socio-political transformations in Hawai‘i, Rapa Nui and Aotearoa New Zealand.

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Published

2022-07-11 — Updated on 2022-07-17

Issue

Vol. 131 No. 1 (2022): March 2022

Section

Articles

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