Humans as geomorphic agents: Lidar detection of the past, present and future of the Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico

Abstract

As humans are the primary geomorphic agents on the landscape, it is essential to assess the magnitude, chronological span, and future effects of artificial ground that is expanding under modern urbanization at an alarming rate. We argue humans have been primary geomorphic agents of landscapes since the rise of early urbanism that continue to structure our everyday lives. Past and present anthropogenic actions mold a dynamic “taskscape” (not just a landscape) onto the physical environment. For example, one of the largest Pre-Columbian metropolitan centers of the New World, the UNESCO world heritage site of Teotihuacan, demonstrates how past anthropogenic actions continue to inform the modern taskscape, including modern street and land alignments. This paper applies a multi-scalar, long durée approach to urban landscapes utilizing the first lidar map of the Teotihuacan Valley to create a geospatial database that links modern and topographic features visible on the lidar map with ground survey, historic survey, and excavation data. Already, we have recorded not only new features previously unrecognized by historic surveys, but also the complete erasure of archaeological features due to modern (post-2015) mining operations. The lidar map database will continue to evolve with the dynamic landscape, able to assess continuity and changes on the Teotihuacan Valley, which can benefit decision makers contemplating the stewardship, transformation, or destruction of this heritage landscape.

EvaluatingMaskR‐CNN models to extract terracing across oceanic high islands: A case study from Sāmoa

“…The generation of fully analysable datasets of archaeological feature locations and morphology, therefore, permits research that uses automated methods to go beyond detection tasks to address longstanding questions about the archaeological record, itself (sensu Davis, 2019). The use of AFE, and lidar more generally, is not a replacement for field-based studies (Sugiyama et al, 2021), but it is an important tool to use, especially in topographic context that make field studies difficult and costly.…”

Exploring the Nature of Authority Over, and Ownership of Data Generated by Archaeological Lidar Projects in Latin America

“…Before turning to publications, it is relevant to briefly outline how archaeologists collect ALS data, and the data access policies that are in place for these datasets. Here, we mostly draw upon the experience of the second author (Fernandez-Diaz) who has personally collected over 30 archaeological datasets in Mesoamerica between 2009 and 2020 (eg., Canuto et al, 2018 ; Fisher et al, 2017 ; Inomata et al, 2020 ; Sugiyama et al, 2021 ). These datasets are archived in three separate locations: at the National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) at the University of Houston, with the researchers themselves, and in some cases with the observed country; collections sponsored by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) are also archived through Open Topography ( https://opentopography.org/ ), although data access is typically restricted due to a lack of open access guidelines in place within the observed countries (Fernandez-Diaz & Cohen, 2020 ).…”

“…From an anthropological perspective, the collection of lidar data has in many ways fundamentally altered how scholars document, visualize, and interpret pre-colonial landscapes. In Latin America, this has included modified survey methods using lidar-derived visualizations, 3D and other models of features, and landscape-wide conceptualizations of topics like urbanization and monumentality (eg., Canuto et al, 2018 ; Chase et al, 2012 ; Ebert et al, 2016 ; Fisher et al, 2017 ; Inomata et al, 2020 ; Khan et al, 2017 ; Rosenswig et al, 2013 ; Sugiyama et al, 2021 ; Stenborg et al, 2018 ; VanValkenburgh et al, 2020 ; Venter et al, 2018 ; Yaeger et al, 2016 ).…”

The Potential of New LiDAR Datasets for Archaeology in Switzerland

“…LiDAR also drives the mapping of Khmer capitals located near Angkor, revealing planned urban landscapes at large scales [16]. In North America, LiDAR data have expanded cultural heritage inventories [17], helped gain a more complete understanding of archaeological and historical landscapes [18,19], and contribute to assess the impact of humans as geomorphic agents [20]. These are but a few regions in which it is not an understatement to call the addition of LiDAR to the archaeologist's toolbox revolutionary.…”