Use of LIDAR and photointerpretation to map the water supply at the Las Murias-Los Tallares Roman gold mine (Castrocontrigo, Leon, Spain)

A comprehensive study of the water supply at Las Murias-Los Tallares Roman gold mine (Castrocontrigo, Leon, Spain) was conducted using LIDAR technology and photointerpretation that revealed all-new and interesting aspects both as concerns the length of the channels and their structure and supply capacity. Although LIDAR technology proves to be very valuable and essential to analysing Roman hydraulic mining structures, there are various limitations when reconstructing supply systems due to the accuracy of LIDAR data and the deterioration of the structures after having been abandoned for nearly 2,000years.