Hallazgo de un nuevo segmento de Qhapaq Ñan en la Sierra del Shincal (Londres, Catamarca): tecnología LiDAR aéreo como herramienta para la detección y análisis de caminos

Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown segment of the Qhapaq Ñan, the vast Andean road system built by the Inca Empire, using innovative LiDAR aerial technology. This discovery was made in the Shincal region (Londres, Catamarca Province, Argentina), where dense vegetation had long obscured the path's presence. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of LiDAR—a remote-sensing tool that penetrates foliage to reveal hidden structures—in archaeological exploration. Ground-based GPS surveys supported the identification of a linear feature in 3D point clouds, which was later confirmed on-site as part of the Qhapaq Ñan network. This finding not only expands our understanding of the road system's extent but also establishes LiDAR as a powerful tool for uncovering hidden heritage sites.

Moralejo, R. A., Gobbo, D., & Del Cogliano, D. (2022). Hallazgo de un nuevo segmento de Qhapaq Ñan en la Sierra del Shincal (Londres, Catamarca): tecnología LiDAR aéreo como herramienta para la detección y análisis de caminos. Relaciones, 47(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.24215/18521479e028