Service B · 1 · Archaeological prospection · For authorities and research
LiDAR archaeology. Prospection before the spade.
Laser scanning measures the ground even beneath dense forest. We turn it into relief visualisations, screen large areas with AI and review every candidate before anyone goes into the field. This service is offered exclusively to heritage authorities, universities and research institutions.
01What shows up
Forest in the aerial image. History in the relief.
The same detail as on our home page: beneath the canopy lie landforms no aerial image shows. The labels deliberately reveal no location.
- 01Funnel-shaped pits in the forestDozens of hollows, invisible in the aerial image. Interpretation open: sinkholes or material pits – only review will tell.
- 02Low round moundInvisible in the aerial image, clear in the relief. Interpretation and location are deliberately left open.
LiDAR terrain model · Data: LGL BW, dl-de/by-2.0, modified
02Typical structures
What relief maps make visible.
01
Burial mounds
Round mounds, often in groups – preserved for millennia under forest.
02
Hollow ways
Sunken old roads, often as bundles on slopes.
03
Ridge and furrow
Parallel strips of former fields beneath today’s forest.
04
Terraces
Steps of former vineyards or fields on slopes.
05
Charcoal kiln platforms
Circular platforms left by charcoal production.
06
Banks and ditches
Linear structures of fortifications, boundaries or earthworks.
03Method
Several views, one reasoned list.
No relief visualisation shows every structure. For each area we compute the same verified set of six views, let the AI screen it tile by tile and review every candidate blind – without knowing location or expectation.
- Rejections are reasoned: forest road, skid trail, timber yard, recent use
- Cross-checked against historic maps and aerial images
- Open candidates with a survey recommendation – never called a “find”
04Responsibility
Sites deserve protection.
Finding candidates comes with responsibility. That is why we work only for heritage authorities (state heritage offices, local heritage protection authorities), universities and research institutions – not for private individuals, detectorists or companies. These rules apply to every project.
- 01Results are suspected sites, not a designation as a monument
- 02Location data goes confidentially to the commissioning body only
- 03No precise coordinates published – not on this site, not in talks
- 04Field surveys only with permission from the heritage authority
- 05Internal metrics are labelled as internal and not externally validated
05Exchange
Method in the open.
We presented our workflow at the CAA Joint Chapter Meeting in Münster in September 2026 and opened it up for discussion.
Blog
Context Before Pixels
The talk in writing (German): how a multi-agent workflow turns open LiDAR data into a verified candidate list.
Blog
AI judgements in archaeology
How a typed AI model reasons about classifications – three practical examples (German).
06Fragen
Frequently asked.
Does LiDAR replace field survey?
No. LiDAR and AI narrow down the area and give reasons where a survey is worthwhile. Whether anything is there is for specialists in the field to establish.
What resolution do we need?
Small structures such as charcoal platforms or ridge and furrow need a terrain model of 1 m resolution or finer. Many regions publish such data openly; we check before the project starts.
Who is archaeological prospection for?
Only for heritage authorities – state heritage offices and local heritage protection authorities – and for universities and research institutions. We do not accept requests about suspected archaeological sites from private individuals, detectorists or companies. Location data goes confidentially to the commissioning body only; we publish no coordinates.
How reliable is the AI screening?
We measure it per project: with blind review, reasoned rejections and – where available – known monuments as a control. We do not promise general hit rates.
Which area do you want to pre-screen?
For heritage authorities and research institutions: tell us the area and the research question. We will tell you what data exists and what an analysis can deliver.