This paper discusses the applications and broad implications of UAV or drone survey to the archaeology of Sudan. The author employs drones to map, model, and analyze the Kushite royal cemeteries of El Kurru, Nuri, and Jebel Barkal. The objective is to better understand the diachronic spatial development of royal cemeteries on a landscape level. While many of these sites have been surveyed, their relationships to surrounding landscape features and phenomena have not been identified or documented. Drones provide an efficient means of gathering a massive amount of photography and data on a much greater landscape scale than traditional forms of mapping and photography. Furthermore, the capability of drone photography to form the basis of photogrammetric and 3D models has implications for the preservation and presentation of cultural heritage. Using drone photography, 3D models of these sites are shared remotely on open access platforms which allow audiences to virtually experience the cultural heritage of Sudan. This is particularly useful given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its lasting impact on tourism and archaeological fieldwork. Lastly, drone surveys provide excellent field research opportunities for training, outreach, and collaboration with local communities and Sudanese archaeologists.

Archaeological Applications of Drones and 3D Modeling in Northern Sudan: A Study of Kushite Royal Cemeteries