Hansjörg THALER (free archaeologist, Brixen, Italy) Keywords: Iceland, Templar knights, prospections, drones Abstract: One of the most interesting mysteries around the Knights Templar is their famous archive, which was kept in different places during the last decades of the existence of their order. The last notice about it appears in 1307 when the last Grand Master De Molnay refused to bring it to France and when he was arrested. In the same year, Dante, who was supposedly a Templar himself, started to write his “Divine Comedy”. It is believed that his famous work might contain hidden clues to the location of the archive. After a decade of intensive study, the Italian engineer and Dante-expert G. Gianazza was able to extrapolate the coordinates for the hiding place of the supposed Templar Archives in a specific area in Iceland. A decade ago in the same area a scattered short sword (Dage), typical for the Templars, and from the early 14th century was found. The presence of Templars on Iceland seems to be confirmed by sources from the Icelandic parliament Althing, which report the constant presence of a larger group of continental knights around the turn of the century. In order to investigate the supposed presence of the last Templars on Iceland this area was surveyed with geo-radar in collaboration with Sirri Seren and the ZAMG Vienna as well as acquired digitally by Marco Block-Berlitz, HTW Dresden with UAV, creating a 3D model of the territory. Furthermore, an archaeological excavation was conducted with the focus on the walking horizon of the early 14th century, which was possible to determine by cross-dating the stratigraphic sequence with the many already dated volcanic eruptions. Marco Block-Berlitz supports also the excavating monitoring with systematic flights of UAV under extreme weather conditions with wind speed up to 50 km/h. The use of cutting-edge survey and acquisition technology on a landscape scale, the processing of large data sets and the archaeological results achieved will be discussed and presented in this paper. Relevance conference | Relevance session: Drones and Geo-Radar in collaboration with Marco Block-Berlitz and ZAMG Sirri Seren, also excavation Innovation: New thematic, interdisiplinary project References: Marco BLOCK-BERLITZ,...

Benjamin ŠTULAR | Edisa LOZIĆ (ZRC SAZU, Institute of Archaeology, Ljubljana, Slovenia) Keywords: DEM, visualization, image fusion Abstract: Using photogrammetry in aerial archaeology or SfM methods in documenting archaeological excavations the two major outputs are either a (“real”) 3D model or a (2.5D) DEM/DSM. The latter – used in landscape-size projects and due to its compatibility with the existing 3D-GIS software often in documenting archaeological sites – is the focus of this presentation. The successful use of the DEM/DSM in supporting processes of interpretation and decision-making during fieldwork depends firstly on the quality of the model, a subject of many specialized papers. Unfortunately, the importance of visualization is often overlooked. Visualization of DEM’s has been a focus of lively research in the archaeological applications of lidar data in archaeology, though. In this presentation advancement in the field of DEM visualization through the image fusion will be presented. Early research in focused on finding the best visualization technique for archaeological interpretation of DEM’s. Good practice recommends the use of multiple visualizations and nowadays, we argue, the focus is shifting towards combining the benefits of different visualization techniques. There are many benefits to this approach, e.g. combining the details of opennes visualization with SLRM (accentuated large features; see attached image), Sky Model (accentuated geomorphology) or multi-scale topographic position analysis (accentuated geomorphological context). To achieve this a simple application of panchromatic sharpening is not adequate due to the spectral distortions. On the other hand, in cartography these effects are often applied in image post processing. This is executed in graphic design environment and it is not suitable for inclusion in the scientific workflow since it is difficult to document with settings being case dependent, more art than science so to speak. As a solution, we are presenting the workflow and a case study of enhancement of DEM visualization through the image fusion based on WhiteboxGAT open source software. Relevance conference | Relevance session: The presented workflow is focused on being a well documented scientific method for extracting information (i.e. archaeological interpretation) from digital born data (i.e. DEM). Innovation: we are presenting the workflow of enhancement of DEM visualization through the image fusion...

Marco BLOCK-BERLITZ | Cyril DWORSKY | Carmen LÖW | Benjamin GEHMLICH | Dennis WITTCHEN | Niklaas GÖRSCH | Benjamin DUCKE (HTW Dresden, Dresden, Germany) Keywords: 3d reconstruction, videogrammetry, uuv Abstract: The videogrammetric approach (the use of videostreams instead of single images) was successful introduced to UAV-based aerial 3d reconstruction in the project Archaeocopter. The results of several campaigns have shown that videogrammetry is a fully viable approach to reconstructing single objects as well as complete archaeological areas. The amount of recorded data, the ability to record while moving and the low cost make it a universal tool for documenting archaeological sites. Since 2015, our 3d reconstruction scope has been extended to underwater archaeology. The project Archaeonautic (HTW Dresden and Freie Universität Berlin) was initiated in cooperation with the German Archaeological Institute (DAI). We present our miniature UUV (Unmanned Underwater Vehicle) Eckbert II, equipped with GoPro cameras, additional lights and a flexible taring system, based on OpenROV. We discuss our customized enhancements to work across a broad range of underwater situations, not only in fresh- and saltwater. The complete hardware system (three GoPro Hero 4 BEs included) is about 3000 USD. In April 2016, Eckbert II was successful deployed to document a shipwreck in Veruda/Croatia at an average depth of six metres. This campaign was conducted in cooperation with the DAI and the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA). Also in April 2016, subsequent to the saltwater campaign, the same system eas deployed to document the palafittes (Pfahlbauten) in Mondsee/Austria at an average depth of about two metres. The main difference and the most critical point here was to ensure that the UUV never touches the sea bottom or the salient lake dwellings. We present best practice routines, such as solutions for cable management, supporting the UUV when strong currents are prevalent, and documentation/record keeping. Relevance conference | Relevance session: The presented system allows to document cultural heritage underwater in a cost-effective way. Innovation: Underwater videogrammetry poses very specific technical challenges, such as colour correction, that our research addresses in a ground-breakingly simple and cost-efficient manner. References:...

Giorgio VERDIANI | Paolo FORMAGLINI | Filippo GIANSANTI | Stéphane GIRAUDEAU (Dipartimento di Architettura, Florence University, Florence, Italy) Keywords: Photogrammetry; Close-up; 3d modeling; Digital photography; lenses; Abstract: The digital photogrammetry has renewed the approach to measurement for archaeologists, architects and many researcher, student, professionist, involved in Cultural Heritage subjects. The quick approach and the possibility to use almost any digital cameras has created a sort of “nice 3d models for approach that have definitely enhanced the way to use the cameras to capture architecture, objects and finds. Thus most of the troubles coming from the more and more advanced software for photogrammetry processing came from purely photographic mistakes or poor knowledge about photographic tools. As well stated in previous studies, there are various way to take pictures more efficiently and gain more quality in the final results, but in the paper proposed here the focus will be on perspective and its influence in the result coming from medium and small size objects and finds. The study will present the results from the use of very different lenses and a short dissertation about perspective, depth of fields and their influence in producing well working pictures for the photogrammetric use. The main structure of the study will concentrate on three lenses used on the same professional DSLR camera body: the AF Micro-NIKKOR 60 mm f/2.8D with 1:1 reproduction ratio (RT), the Venus Laowa Micro 15mm f/4 with 1:1 RT and a Nikkor 18mm F3.5 MF used with extension tubes to reach a 1:1 RT. The subject of the test shooting will be a set of significant finds from the Archaeological Museum in Florence. The full processing and procedure of matching the data will be presented to bring an useful contribution and reference for other scholars. Relevance conference | Relevance session: An operative study for an operative audience Innovation: We hope to bring a useful contribution on the operative level in the choice of the correct tools References: GUIDI, G. / GONIZZI, S. / MICOLI, L.L. (2014): Image pre-processing for optimizing automated photogrammetry performances, in SPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume II-5 MANGANELLI DEL FÀ, R....

Ronny WESSLING | Michael KONRAD (Crazy Eye – geoinformatics and digital archaeology, Vienna, Austria) Keywords: underwater, pile dwellings, unmanned surface vehicle, photogrammetry Abstract: As unmanned aerial vehicles are becoming a standard tool for archaeological aerial survey it is a logical extension to apply autonomous vehicles to underwater prospections. In this study a self-made low cost multipurpose unmanned surface vehicle (mUSV) is presented. It allows to follow a predefined path on the water surface using satellite based navigation and is therefore ideally suited for systematic surveying of submerged areas of archaeological interest. Due to the very low draught of about 0.1 m it becomes possible to survey very shallow water too. Sailing routes are automatically calculated by advanced open source software considering the desired overlap and resolution of the generated data. The mUSV is designed to carry acoustic (multi-beam sonar,side scan sonar, sub-bottom profiler, boomer, pinger), geophysical (ground penetrating radar) and photogrammetric (camera) sensors. First tests were carried out equipped with an underwater camera attached to a vertical adjustment slide to adapt to the depth of water. By recording highly overlapping images of the sea ground geo-referenced orthophotos and bathymetric data is created which can be used for the detection, mapping and monitoring of submerged archaeology. The talk will evaluate the derived data taken from pile dwelling sites at Lake Attersee, Upper Austria in terms of cost, quality and further optimization possibilities. Relevance conference | Relevance session: In this study low cost hardware and open source software are combined to a sophiticated device for underwater prospection Innovation: The potential of unmanned surface vehicles for underwater archaeology has not been explored yet. This paper analyses its application for photogrammetric surveying in shallow environments. References: HENDERSON, J. et al. (2013): Mapping Submerged Archaeological Sites using Stereo-Vision Photogrammetry. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 42, 243–256. DRAP, P. et al. (2015): The ROV 3D Project: Deep-Sea Underwater Survey Using Photogrammetry: Applications for Underwater Archaeology. Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage 8(4): 21...