Identifying Landscape Modification using Open Data and Tools: The Charcoal Hearths of the Blue Mountain, Pennsylvania

In this technical brief I demonstrate two methodological points broadly relevant to historical archaeologists. While light detection and ranging (LiDAR), also known as airborne laser scanning (ALS), has been widely used to identify prehistoric archaeological sites, its use in historical archaeology could be expanded. LiDAR data are particularly valuable because they are frequently open access. By coupling open LiDAR data with open source software one can quickly, easily, and inexpensively identify historical landscape modification. I present an illustrative example, the identification of charcoal hearths in Pennsylvania, along with tools and techniques used to carry out the research. This method has allowed us to identify 758 charcoal hearths within a 74 km(2) research area along the Blue Mountain of northeastern Pennsylvania.