Arizona's Mummy Cave: 1,700-year-old cliff village archived in 3D for preservation
Laser scanning has captured a 1,700-year-old cliff-dwelling in Tse Yaa Kin (Mummy Cave), Arizona, detailing more than 165 rooms in a precise 3D archive. Researchers using LiDAR have created a digital twin to test stabilization options while preserving plaster and tool marks, as erosion threatens the fragile mud walls. Indigenous communities’ consent guides access and sharing to protect the site, and the project also trains students and plans to continue through 2027 to safeguard the record for future study.
