3D Documentation for the study of the UNESCO site of Masada

Methodologies and applied research for the analysis of Roman fields

Sandro PARRINELLO¹ | Daniele BURSICH²
(1 University of Pavia, University of Milan, Pavia, Italy | 2 Dipartimento di Beni Culturali e Ambientali, Sezione di Archeologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy)

Keywords: 3D scanner, photogrammetric survey, archaeology, roman camp, roman tent

Abstract:
The Masada Research Project – MRP is an inter-university project launched in 2013 and developed within international agreements among the University of Pavia, the University of Florence and the Department of Interior Building and Environment Design – Shenkar College of Israel, for the development of documentation methods of the archaeological area of Masada through digital technologies.
MRP saw numerous campaigns conducted on site to detect the entire plateau and surrounding roman camps. The aim of the project is to define experimental methodologies and test reliability by combining and integrating different data acquisition techniques, for the construction of reliable models and for managing cultural heritage.
An international multidisciplinary team was coordinated to document the site by using 3D laser scanner and photogrammetric survey or SFM techniques; The data collected and systematized into a digital archive, formed a database of photos and drawings useful for digital and virtual reconstruction, which illustrates site conditions at the various evolutionary stages of Masada.
In particular, during the third documentation campaign (2015), it’s been completed the relief of the buildings present on the plateau and some Roman camps, especially the H camp and the main legionnaire (F2) the so called “Silva Camp”. An analysis of the findings of the latter, thanks to an in-depth archaeological study it was possible to make some interesting proposals for architectural reconstruction of some military buildings, connected with the historical picture of the site.