The Case of the tomb of Zechariah in Jerusalem, Israel
Monica Bercigli
(University of Florence, Department of Architecture, Florence, Italy)
Keywords: Digital survey, Virtual Reality, Structure from motion, Rupestrian Architecture
Abstract:
The great development of city of Jerusalem during the 70s allowed to significantly learn about some parts and aspects of the city, particularly those concerning its ancient necropolis. During those years have been discovered many tombs of the First Temple period. The object of study of this poster is the so-called tomb of Zachariah who is in the Kidron Valley at the foot of the Mount of Olives, on the south-eastern side of the old city walls. It’s a real rupestrial monument and is part of a group of four tombs, some of these carved directly into the rock. The Zechariah Tomb is constituted by a cubic block of rock surmounted by a pyramid and has a solid and compact appearance.
The poster reports the experience carried out through survey techniques named Structure From Motion developed on the basis of previous findings and subsequent representation through 2D and 3D drawings of the Tomb, comparing them with some drawings and watercolors of the painter David Roberts. The survey technique allows to reconstruct three-dimensional models through photographs. The aim of the work is to define a procedural process which allows to perform accurate and reliable three-dimensional reconstructions for the knowledge and the dissemination of Cultural Heritage, taking advantage of representation and visualization techniques that have developed in the last decade and based on historical references. The variety of digital products which can be produced (video games, 3D models prints, websites, augmented reality applications), allows a different approach to the representation, re-evaluating limits, aims and expressive potential. The virtual representative systems, enriched with cultural content, scientific information and data, allow to develop a more participated and aware path of knowledge by the final users of the products and are able to increase the interaction between user and information.
Relevance conference:
The poster describes how it is possible to integrate historical data and images with new survey technologies to document an archeological artifact.
Relevance session:
The poster shows the importance of “expeditious survey” in archeology and the use of the SFM system to describe the state of surface conservation in absence of other survey tools.
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