Date:

LiDAR reveals lost landscape containing hundreds of ancient monuments

A team of archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University (IA UKSW) in Warsaw, has revealed a lost landscape in the Białowieża Forest on the border between Belarus and Poland, containing hundreds of ancient monuments.

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is a method of remote sensing using light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth. The differences in the laser return times and measuring the wavelengths can be used to compile a 3-D digital map of the landscape, removing obscuring features such as woodland that could hide archaeological features.

Using this technique, the team identified sites from prehistory to WW2 that consists of 577 ancient burial barrows, 246 charcoal kiln sites, 54 tar plants, 19 complexes of ancient farmlands, 51 semi-dugouts and 17 war cemeteries.

Some of the mound’s date from the early Middle Ages, but most are from the period of Roman influence (2nd-5th century AD). Several of them have been excavated, with those from the Middle Ages containing skeleton or cremation burials, while those from earlier periods appear to be devoid of human remains.

- Advertisement -

Dr. Joanna Wawrzeniek from the IA UKSW told PAP that people in prehistory and in the Middle Ages inhabited the region mainly on small forest elevations with access to a river or stream. These places were often inhabited for long periods, sometimes intermittently.

The team also identified two fortified structures, the first of which is located in the Strict Reserve of the Białowieża National Park, and the other is in the Wilczy Jar Forest District.

The first structure has a diameter of 36 metres and a small embankment 3 metres wide. In the interior of the structure, archaeologists found Slavic pottery from the early and late Middle Ages and ancient flint relics.

The second structure has a diameter of around 17 m, for an analysis of organic remains found in situ suggests that the site was used in two periods, from the 4th-3rd century BC and the 7th-10th century AD.

PAP

Header Image Credit : M. Szubski & M. Jakubczak

 

- Advertisement -
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan is an award winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 7,500 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education and the BCA Medal of Honour.

Mobile Application

spot_img

Related Articles

Prison bakery for enslaved people found in Roman Pompeii

Archaeologists have uncovered a Prison bakery during recent excavations in Pompeii.

Baboons in Ancient Egypt were raised in captivity before being mummified

In a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, researchers examined a collection of baboon mummies from the ancient Egyptian site of Gabbanat el-Qurud, the so-called Valley of the Monkeys on the west bank of Luxor.

Archaeologists find 22 mummified burials in Peru

A Polish-Peruvian team of archaeologists have uncovered 22 mummified burials in Barranca, Peru.

Oldest prehistoric fortress found in remote Siberia

An international team, led by archaeologists from Freie Universität Berlin has uncovered an ancient prehistoric fortress in a remote region of Siberia known as Amnya.

Top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2023

The field of archaeology has been continuously evolving in 2023, making significant strides in uncovering new historical findings, preserving cultural heritage, and employing innovative technologies to study the past.

War in Ukraine sees destruction of cultural heritage not witnessed since WW2

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 has resulted in a significant loss of human lives and the national and international displacement of many Ukrainian people.

Archaeologists find five Bronze Age axes in the forests of Kociewie

According to an announcement by the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, archaeologists have discovered five Bronze Age axes in Starogard Forest District, located in Kociewie, Poland.

Origins of English Christmas traditions

Christmas embodies a tapestry of ritual traditions and customs shared by many countries and cultures. Some hearken back to ancient times, while others represent more recent innovations.