Using 3D modelling in the Valley or Turu Alty (Siberia, Russia) for research and conservational purposes

Abstract

[EN] Since 1999 the Department of Archeology and the Department of Geography of Ghent University undertake field surveys to the Altai Region in Siberia, Russia. This region is a very important archaeological heritage area in the world. Scattered throughout the region are hundreds of frozen tombs, ritual monuments and petroglyphs. Research of these relics helps to understand the life of Eurasian nomads in the 4th century BC. Even more important, due to upcoming touristic activities and climate change, the documentation of the frozen tombs is imperative. A traditional archaeological survey consists out of a basic description, a drawing, one or two pictures and the GNSS location of each monument. With support of the department of Geography several topographical maps are created based on satellite images (IKONOS, Pleiades) and measurement of Ground Control Points (GCP) on site. Furthermore, since 2012 the use of 3D realistic photo modelling is being applied to survey the monuments in higher detail. The method of photo modelling proves to be successful and cost-effective. Besides their high detail, the almost real-life virtual representation of the monuments makes these techniques less abstract than a traditional archaeological survey. During the field campaigns in the summer of 2014 and 2015 this method was implied to record hundreds of monuments in the valley of Turu Alty (Siberia, Russia). Using 3D modelling software the models are created to document the monuments and petroglyphs of the study area for research and conservational purposes.