The mission, led by resident archaeologist Dr. Jolie Liston and funded by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, aimed to map around 3,000 acres of ancient terraces in the state of Aimeliik, providing detailed data about these historical cultivation sites. Drone surveys of the terraces, which have been covered by thick tropical vegetation over the past thousands of years, will help researchers better understand these landforms’ significance as they relate to Palau’s historical culture, infrastructure, agriculture, defense systems, ceremonies, and rituals.

“The objective of the project is to increase the cultural, social, and economic value of Palau’s monumental earthwork landscape to preserve the legacy of this significant cultural heritage for future generations,” Liston said. “This goal will be accomplished through an integrated approach combining remote sensing, archaeological field work, and oral history collection, all of which include education and capacity-building components.”

The use of drones equipped with LiDAR sensors allow laser pulses to penetrate the vegetation to reveal the ancient topography underneath. Compared to past plane-based surveys, the drone and LiDAR technology combination offers several advantages, including the ability to survey large areas and to sense beneath dense vegetation with higher efficiency and accuracy.

The collected data was processed to create detailed 3D models of the terraces and a high-resolution digital terrain model (DTM). These models reveal the structure and extent of the terraces with unprecedented clarity, offering significant benefits for archaeological research and conservation efforts.

Despite initial challenges with the weather, technology, and terrain, Torres found the campaign incredibly fulfilling.

“Learning about the forgotten history of the terraces was incredibly intriguing, especially since most people wouldn’t think much about them,” he said. “It was astonishing that there are no oral accounts of them, despite Palau’s deep roots in oral history.”

Torres, who attends Guam Community College as a civil engineering technology student, credits the University of Guam Drone Corps and NASA Guam Space Grant programs for preparing him with essential skills in drone operation, safety precautions, and fieldwork.

“Participating in cohort three of the Drone Corps program helped me learn the necessary skills to confidently handle a drone,” he said. “Through the NASA Guam Space Grant internship program, I was able to intern with 2cofly and be a part of many missions on Guam.”

Through their efforts with Liston’s project, Torres and the 2cofly team aim to not only highlight the island’s ancient terraces, but also inspire future generations to value and protect their historical environments. The detailed data from this mission is expected to be shared with major publications, bringing global attention to Palau’s remarkable environment and encouraging further archaeological research and preservation efforts.

NASA Guam Space Grant is accepting internship applications for the Fanuchånan 2024 semester until Aug. 2, 2024. In addition to the Professional Internship Pathway, the program also offers Research and Teaching Internships. Participants receive a stipend totaling $3,000 per semester with an opportunity to extend into a second semester for a total of $6,000 per academic year. Interested applicants can apply at bit.ly/ngsg2024 or reach out to Keanno Fausto at faustok9679@triton.uog.edu.

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About NASA Guam Space Grant:

NASA Guam Space Grant (NGSG) is a member of the University of Hawai’i Space Grant Consortium, participating in the National Space Grant College and Fellowship program and administering the University Research Internship (URI) program. NGSG aims to inspire and train future generations of professionals in understanding, utilizing, exploring, and investigating both space and Earth through research and internships. Housed within the Micronesian Area Geospatial Information Center (MAGIC) lab at the University of Guam, as part of the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, the program supports educational initiatives focusing on STEM topics as they support NASA’s missions.