Drones Map Peru's Ancient Archaeological Sites

Peru has turned to drones to survey its vast wealth of archaeology sites and ancient ruins, thousands of which have yet to be mapped and excavated.

The unmanned aircraft typically smaller from the ones employed in military actions or anti-terror strikes.

Archaeologists say these small drones can help set boundaries to protect sites from squatters or miners.

They can also help produce three-dimensional models of Peruvian sites instead of flat maps, and dramatically speed-up the collection of images.

"We can convert the images that the drones provide into topographical and photogrammetry data to build three-dimensional models," archaeologist Luis Jaine Castillo said.

"By using the pictures taken by drones we can see walls, patios, the fabric of the city," added Mr Castillo, who is using drones to map the 1,300 year-old Moche civilisation around San Idelfonso and San Jose del Moro, two sites north of Lima.

The Inca city of Machu Picchu is among the world's most popular sites

Mapping sites is a crucial but often slow first step before major excavation work can begin.

In the past, researchers have rented crop dusters and strapped cameras to kites and helium-filled balloons, but those methods can be expensive and clumsy.

Now they can build drones small enough to hold with two hands for as little as $1,000 (£640).

"We see them as a vital tool for conservation," Ana Maria Hoyle, an archaeologist with the Culture Ministry, said.

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs, have flown over at least six different archaeological sites in Peru in the past year.

The Latin American country is home to more than 13,000 sites, such as the spectacular Inca city of Machu Picchu, but only around 2,500 of them have been properly marked off, according to the Culture Ministry.

A US military drone launches from an aircraft carrier

In the US, the use of drones for military and surveillance operations has raised privacy and safety concerns.

But in Peru, archaeologists say it is only a matter of time before drones replace decades-old tools still used in their field, and stress the technology can be used for less destructive uses.

"So much of the technology we use every day comes from warfare," said Ms Hoyle.

"It is natural this is happening."

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