De opgraving in 3D: de bruikbaarheid en betrouwbaarheid van een fotogrammetrische methode voor archeologische administratie

Archaeologists strive for an accurate and objective documentation of contexts, features and finds during an excavation. Traditionally, this is accomplished by means of manual measuring and drawing of the identified features into plans and by two-dimensional photography. The quality of the drawings, however, is not consistent and the process of making them can be very time-consuming, whilst when using photographs, the viewer is bound to the perspective chosen by the photographer. 3D technology can provide a solution to these problems, because the produced models are scaled and recorded objectively and because they are navigable. Photogrammetry is a low-cost and relatively user-friendly method for creating 3D models as a means of recording archaeological excavations, and has the potential to change current field methodology. This point is substantiated with examples from the Early Iron Age to Classical sanctuary site at Karystos-Plakari in Greece.