Beyond Angkor: How lasers revealed a lost city (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Ben Lawrie
Documentary film-maker

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Then, last year, archaeologists announced a series of new discoveries - about Angkor, and an even older city hidden deep in the jungle beyond.

An international team, led by the University of Sydney's Dr Damian Evans, had mapped 370 sq km around Angkor in unprecedented detail - no mean feat given the density of the jungle and the prevalence of landmines from Cambodia's civil war. Yet the entire survey took less than two weeks.

Their secret?

Lidar - a sophisticated remote sensing technology that is revolutionising archaeology, especially in the tropics.

Mounted on a helicopter criss-crossing the countryside, the team's lidar device fired a million laser beams every four seconds through the jungle canopy, recording minute variations in ground surface topography.
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more: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29245289

[oldandhappy]

1. This is amazing and exciting, and

some small part of me wishes for what is hidden to remain hidden. Angkor is not now the same as it was in the early 1990's when I spent time there. I am glad for people to see it. I am protective of what is still hidden and wish for it to remain so. Yes, somewhat double minded, smile.

[shenmue]

2. Wow

[Judi Lynn]

3. Wonderful information, photos, video. Thank you. n/t