Unequal Horizons: Global North–South Disparities in Archaeological Earth Observation (2000–2025)
Journal
Remote Sensing
ISSN
2072-4292
Date Issued
October 6, 2025
Author(s)
DOI
10.3390/rs17193371
Abstract
This systematic review analyzes 4359 archaeologically relevant publications spanning 25 years to examine global disparities in archaeological remote sensing research between Global North and Global South participation. This study reveals deep inequalities among these regions, with 72.1% of research output originating from Global North-only institutions, despite these regions hosting less than half of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temporal analysis demonstrates exponential growth, with 47.2% of all research published in the last five years, indicating rapid technological advancement concentrated in well-resourced institutions. Sub-Saharan Africa produces only 0.6% of research output while hosting 9.4% of World Heritage Sites, highlighting a technology gap in heritage protection. The findings suggest an urgent need for coordinated interventions to address structural inequalities and promote technological fairness in global heritage preservation. The research employed bibliometric analysis of Scopus database records from four complementary search strategies, revealing that just three countries—Italy (20.3%), the United States (16.7%), and the United Kingdom (10.0%)—account for nearly half of all archaeological remote sensing research and applications worldwide. This study documents patterns that have profound implications for cultural heritage preservation and sustainable development in an increasingly digital world where advanced Earth observation technologies have become essential for effective heritage protection and archaeological research.
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Unequal Horizons Global North–South Disparities.pdf
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