Seville University researchers have set a milestone in archaeological documentation with the creation of an accurate three-dimensional model of La Pileta Cave, in Benaoján, Málaga. It was declared a National Monument as early as 1924, but the cave has been famous for years as one of Europe’s largest prehistoric art collections. Its walls bear thousands of figures, symbols, and human silhouettes from the Upper Paleolithic to the Bronze Age and thereby consтιтute an unparalleled 100,000-year archive of human expression.

Digital model of La Pileta cave. Credit: D. Antón et al., Journal of Archaeological Science (2025)

The new approach combines two complementary technologies: smartphone-based LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS). Smartphone LiDAR allowed researchers to scan narrow and inaccessible areas and produce highly detailed textures. The TLS, on the other hand, provided millimeter precision and a stable metric foundation, so the entire dataset could be cross-validated against ground control points for reliability. Together, the two technologies produced an extremely precise reconstruction of the cave, bringing back to life its prehistoric heritage for the digital world.

The work carried out in the project is a case in point of how mobile LiDAR, earlier restricted by technical constraints, is becoming an effective, low-cost tool in speleology and cave archaeology. While TLS delivers precision, the union of the two systems balances precision with versatility. Merging their datasets, researchers achieved a model that not only reproduces the cave’s complex karstic formations but also highlights rock art panels with stunning clarity. The smartphone LiDAR textures even outdo traditional methods in visual appeal, enabling clearer identification of archaeological and geological features.

In addition to its primary scientific contribution, the project is also a significant step forward in cultural heritage management. The virtual reconstruction ensures that scholars can examine fragile paintings and reliefs without ever entering the cave, reducing the danger of damage introduced by human presence. Among La Pileta’s unique discoveries is a Gravettian-age stone lamp with residues of pigment, one of the earliest recorded lighting devices in the Iberian Peninsula—testimony to how ancient artists illuminated their subterranean canvases.

HDR panorama of the Gran Pez and surrounding paintings. Credit: D. Antón et al., Journal of Archaeological Science (2025)

High-definition 3D models of caves can be employed as resources for geology, biology, and even education, providing a new perspective on scientific interpretation. For the public, interactive digital reconstructions provide an opportunity to “visit” prehistoric sanctuaries without ever entering them, making cultural heritage more accessible than ever before.

Published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, the research was carried out by an interdisciplinary team of researchers led by scholars from the University of Seville in collaboration with researchers from Portugal. Their results validate the growing role played by digital technologies in preserving archaeological heritage.

With this combination of archaeology and technology, La Pileta Cave, once illuminated only by prehistoric lamps, can now be explored in rich digital detail and preserved for generations to come.

More information: Antón, D., Mayoral-Valsera, J., Simón-Vallejo, M. D., Parrilla-Giráldez, R., & Cortés-Sánchez, M. (2025). Built-in smartphone LiDAR for archaeological and speleological research. Journal of Archaeological Science, 181(106330), 106330. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2025.106330