USING PHOTOGRAMMETRY TO DOCUMENT AND MONITOR CAVE PALEONTOLOGICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

The use of photogrammetry to create 3D grid maps is becoming an increasingly popular tool to document geologic resources. The majority of uses of this technique have occurred in surface environments and have produced valuable models for research and monitoring efforts. Few studies, however, have been completed in sub-surface environments, specifically caves. The National Park Service has been leading the efforts to adapt these methodologies for in-cave use. Grand Canyon National Park has over 335 known caves which contain significant remains of extinct Late Pleistocene fauna as well as substantial amounts of archaeological materials, including Middle to Late Archaic Split Twig Figurines. Within a national park setting, it is preferred to leave these materials in-situ, however documentation and monitoring is essential to ensure the preservation and protection of these resources. Here we present developing techniques for performing photogrammetry in the unique conditions of caves in order to improve our ability to document and monitor paleontological and archeological sites.