Advancing Cave Survey Methods: High‐Precision Mapping in Drakotrypa Cave, Greece

ABSTRACT Cave floor mapping plays a vital role across various scientific disciplines by enabling the identification and interpretation of features shaped by both natural processes and human activity. In cave archaeology, floor mapping is crucial to decode and reconstruct human‐induced morphological features. However, the field has long faced significant challenges in accurately mapping the complexity of cave systems. Conventional methods often fail to capture the detail and depth of subterranean terrains or require substantial time and effort. To address these limitations, we propose a new methodology that enhances standard cave survey techniques to produce detailed floor maps in the form of point clouds. This novel approach implements easily accessible hardware (DistoX) and widespread cave survey software (PocketTopo, Therion) in combination with open source and popular GIS software (QGIS) to generate high‐precision three‐dimensional models of cave floor surfaces. We evaluate this methodology by comparing it to Apple LiDAR mapping, using Drakotrypa Cave on Thasos Island as a test site. Numerous human‐induced modifications mark the floor of this cave, which served as both a prehistoric settlement and a cult site during the Archaic and Classical periods. Our case study highlights how the proposed method can effectively reveal remnants of past human activity.