Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne

Lidar survey in the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site

A lidar survey of the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site, covering approximately 90 km², revealed previously unrecorded archaeological features such as large enclosures (>100 m in diameter), route ways, hollow-ways, embanked enclosures, and quarries. These findings, analyzed using advanced visualization techniques like multi-direction hillshade and Sky View Factor, significantly enhanced the understanding of this Neolithic landscape's subtle topographic expressions. Geophysical surveys corroborated lidar-based discoveries, while viewshed analysis suggested that Newgrange would have been the first visible tomb for a Neolithic boat traveler, with all three great tombs only visible from the Bend's apex. The study also highlighted recent discoveries lacking topographic expression, emphasizing lidar's potential and limitations in subtle-relief landscapes.