GIS is Rewriting Archaeology Approaches

April 23, 2025

Archaeology and GIS

Geographic information science (GIS) has made a monumental impact in fields like the earth sciences and historical research. Archaeologists were among the earliest adopters of GIS, beginning to utilize geospatial technology for projects in the 1980s. Since then, GIS has continued to change archeology approaches for the better, opening new avenues for discovery and providing a new perspective on the world around us.

As GIS mapping technology has become more powerful, it has become commonplace to develop visualizations of ancient settlements and analyze changes in the use of space over time without risking damage to the artifacts. But the revolutions of today aren’t just about creating better maps: new approaches in GIST have allowed researchers to survey enormous areas, look under things (trees, water, ice, ground) that we couldn’t before and in many cases, not cause any disturbances to sites.

Today, researchers harness emerging spatial problem-solving techniques like GeoAI and machine learning, LiDAR and predictive site mapping to uncover hidden pieces of history and develop fresh insights into known settlements.

Request Brochure

Fill out the information below to learn more about the University of Southern California’s GIS Graduate Programs and download a free brochure. If you have any additional questions, please call 213-325-2474 to speak to an enrollment specialist.

Program of interest:*

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Phone*

By checking this box, I authorize University of Southern California and its representatives to contact me via SMS. Participation is voluntary. Standard message and data rates may apply. This consent is not required as a condition of enrollment. Reply STOP to opt out of SMS. Terms.

By checking this box, I consent to receiving communication from University of Southern California and its representatives via calls using an artificial or automated voice. Terms.

University of Southern California has engaged AllCampus to help support your educational journey. AllCampus will contact you shortly in response to your request for information. About AllCampus. Privacy Policy. You may opt out of receiving communications at any time.

* All Fields are Required. Your Privacy is Protected.

The Use of GeoAI and Machine Learning in GIS and Archaeology

Modern machine learning and GeoAI tools have made GIS even more powerful than previous generations of archeologists could have expected. By using deep learning models to analyze existing images of the area, the AI can predict the locations of archaeological sites with roughly 80% accuracy. In the hands of an experienced archaeologist, these predictions can be used to develop heatmaps or streamline further analysis using GIS software.

These tools are already being used to make the workload of analyzing existing data more manageable in projects like “Cultural Landscapes Scanner (CLS): Earth Observation and Automated Detection of Subsoil Undiscovered Cultural Heritage Sites via AI Approaches,” which was conducted by the European Space Agency with the goal of detecting undiscovered cultural heritage sites in Italy. Satellite imagery and radar data can be helpful in finding cultural heritage sites, but the sheer volume of information that researchers have to sort through makes it nearly impossible for archaeologists to personally review and interpret each item.

By automating the analysis of archaeological remote sensing with AI, this project provides a valuable template for future projects. Rather than depending on subjective observation and time-consuming interpretation of an overwhelming amount of data, people can use machine learning to sort through information and dedicate their expertise to the most meaningful datasets.

Using LiDAR Applications in Mesa Verde

LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, functions by panning and pulsing laser beams and then measuring the bounceback of that light. This technology allows archaeologists to gather detailed information about large landscapes without disturbing the environment of sites. The information gathered with LiDAR can guide which areas of terrain archaeologists want to investigate first, as well as which areas may be challenging to access.

Right now, LiDAR is being used to survey the Mesa Verde region and uncover new knowledge about this landscape and the histories of the Indigenous peoples that have lived there. One way LiDAR has supported this project is by gathering more detailed information about where great kivas may have been located. Another thing that LiDAR has uncovered is the distance between locations and ancestral roads, which is helping researchers understand how different sites likely interacted with one another when they were in use.

By combining LiDAR surveys with GIS software, professionals can create simulations that combine all of the available data to reconstruct or predict the possible behavior of human systems in the past. These simulations allow archaeological researchers to consider several variables, such as weather patterns and population size, to see how groups may have adapted their use of the landscape and built structures.

Mapping a New View of Ancient Civilizations

GIS archaeology not only uncovers previously overlooked historical and cultural sites, but it can also offer new context to well-researched areas. Putting existing information into a new context can give professionals new insights into migration patterns and the reasons behind the settlement locations.

Xiangyang City, in the Hubei Province of China, has had people living there as far back as the Paleolithic period. While the topography has evolved significantly over time, archaeologists have still been able to locate several sites in the area that help us learn more about the people who once lived there.

Researchers are continuing to learn about the area and locate new archaeological sites. Some have employed a local relief model to create an archaeological site prediction map for the Neolithic Era. This map indicated that areas likely to have Neolithic Era archaeological sites were mainly around:

The Hanjiang River basin
The Tangbai River basin
Hinterlands of mountains and hills
Flat areas along rivers
Central downland plain areas
Eastern low mountains and hills

During the Neolithic Era, Xiangyang had many areas with lots of water and very fertile soil, which made for excellent farming conditions. These resource-rich areas were a considerable part of the appeal for people looking for a place to settle, so it makes sense that most of the Neolithic Era sites we’re aware of surround water sources.

After reviewing the LR predictions, researchers were then able to validate the model based on confirmed archaeological site locations, showing where the predictive model estimated sites would be aligned with the sites we have discovered so far.

About USC’s GIS Graduate Programs

The University of Southern California offers a comprehensive selection of online and residential GIS programs. This includes both GIS master’s degrees and GIS graduate certificates. Click on the programs below to learn about our leading geographic information science education.

GIS Master’s Degrees

GIS Graduate Certificates

← 4 Uses of Geospatial Intelligence