An overview of radar technologies for archaeological sites: Discovering, monitoring and preservation

Cultural Heritage (CH) possesses two intrinsic properties that must always be considered: value (both material and immaterial); and vulnerability. CH embodies the social, artistic and historical identity of civilizations, yet it is constantly threatened by time, natural disasters, neglect and war. Archaeological sites, in particular, face more extreme and less controllable risks compared to artefacts housed indoors.Radar technologies offer unique potential, especially when used synergistically for the discovery, monitoring and preservation of such sites. Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging) has emerged as an unparalleled tool for non-destructive diagnostics of archaeological and natural environments. Techniques such as ground-penetrating radar, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), interferometric SAR and UAV-mounted radar systems are increasingly applied for the detection, monitoring and preservation of ground-based archaeological sites. This work provides a concise and practical overview of radar technologies in the context of CH preservation, with particular focus on buildings and ground-based archaeological sites.