LiDAR and conflict archaeology

The Battle of the Bulge (1944-1945)

Bibliographic Data

ID3453344
AuthorsBirger Stichelbaut (0000-0001-9841-1489, Ghent University, corresponding author), Dries Coucke (Ghent University), David G Passmore (0000-0002-2258-2342, University of Toronto), Jonas Van De Winkel, G De Mulder (0000-0002-4180-502X, Ghent University)
Year2023
Volume97
Issue394
Pages945-963
Publication date2023-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAntiquity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-598X • E-ISSN: 1745-1744
PublisherAntiquity Publications (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.15184/aqy.2023.95
OpenAlexW4385841092
LanguageEN
Citations received4

Although conflict archaeology is now well established, the archaeological remains of many specific military confrontations are still to be explored. This article reports the results of fieldwork to document the site of the Battle of the Bulge (16 December 1944-25 January 1945). The authors use drone-mounted 1m-resolution LiDAR and very high-resolution simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) methods to reveal more than 940 features within the forested Ardennes landscape, many of which were subsequently visited and confirmed. As well as highlighting the potential of the LiDAR-SLAM method, deployed here (both in this geographic region and in conflict archaeology) for the first time, the survey results emphasise the need for a debate on managing the heritage of a key modern conflict landscape in Europe

Aerial Survey · Archaeology · Battle · Conflict archaeology · Geography · Key (lock) · Lidar · Prehistoric archaeology · Remote sensing · 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage · Archaeological Research and Protection · Computer Science · History · Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications

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