Drone LiDAR Uncovers Three New Aboriginal Rock Shelters in Blue Mountains

Researchers employed drone‑based LiDAR to map the Blue Mountains, revealing three previously unregistered Aboriginal rock shelters. Working closely with the Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation, the team documented distinctive red hand stencils and stone artifacts within the sites. The high‑resolution aerial survey proved especially effective in the rugged terrain, offering a non‑intrusive way to identify culturally significant locations that are otherwise hard to access. The discovery underscores the potential of drone technology to enhance archaeological surveys across challenging landscapes, and ongoing studies aim to test the method’s applicability to other Australian regions, thereby strengthening heritage protection efforts.