The usage of unmanned aerial vehicles and their prospects in Archaeology

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a recent addition to the archaeologist's arsenal of tools. They are capable of traveling in the air and reaching places that a human cannot. They are however not used in many places over the world. This thesis' purpose is to illuminate the positive and negative aspects of how UAVs can be used in archaeology, in order to generate interest in the utilization. Their ability to acquire images that encompasses large and small areas is its main and most frequently used attribute. By using two case studies, the attributes of UAV's are put forward. The conclusiveness of data procured by UAVs and how it is possible to use this information in further studies are shown in these case studies. We see that the UAVs differ in abilities, and the result is often dependent of the quality of the available tools and gear.

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