Search

The storage fortresses (ighamouen) in the Gourara region in the south of Algeria represent significant examples of traditional architecture, offering valuable insights into a diminishing agricultural, social, and economic heritage. These fortresses were constructed between the tenth and late nineteenth centuries, and they were pivotal in safeguarding date harvests from nomadic tribes and served as fortified havens during the conflict. Their archaeological documentation commenced during the French colonial era, with some already displaying signs of deterioration. However, these structures were swiftly abandoned with Algeria’s independence and have deteriorated over the years. This paper presents a comprehensive conservation assessment of two prominent fortress types in the Gourara region, focusing on documentation, preservation, and architectural identification. The study employs cost-effective methods like photogrammetry and field surveys to document architectural features, shedding light on the various historical phases of these fortified granaries and their current state of preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, the documentation of historical buildings has made tremendous progress in generalising the use of high-precision laser scanning and drone photogrammetry. Yet the potential of digital surveying is not fully exploited due to difficulties in manually analysing large amounts of collected data. Machine learning offers immense potential as a game-changer in building archaeology, especially for the documentation of structures composed of millions of units. This paper presents the first segmentation of large-scale surveys of historic masonry using machine learning, using the thirteenth-century Basilica of St Anthony (Padua, Italy) as a case study. Based on a drone survey of the north façade of the building (110 × 70 m), a state-of-the-art non-learning segmentation approach is described and its limitations for historical structures are illustrated. Then, a new workflow based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) is presented. The result is a precise mapping of about 300,000 individual bricks showing a large variety of formats and bonds. The automatic surveys are analysed using visual programming language (VPL), enabling a rapid and feature-based identification of building phases and repair interventions. The outcome demonstrates the validity of machine learning for the analysis of historical structures and its potential in the field of heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restructuring of the railways and steel railway bridges in Chemnitz and Hannover around 1900 The development of the railway network in the mid‐19th century had massive implications for settlement and landscape planning in Germany, deeply affecting the cultural and historical development of each region. As a consequence of high industrialization, around 1900, there was a significant increase in the population's desire for mobility and the necessity of transporting goods. This led to the continuous expansion of the railway network. Particularly in urban areas, this expansion was accompanied by the construction of extensive infrastructure, which increasingly reached its capacity limits on both roads and railways. The necessary track diversions required the construction of a large number of new bridge structures. This gave rise to a variety of steel solid web girder bridges with short spans, which, with their economical design language and richly adorned abutment pylons, profoundly transformed the cities. These bridge ensembles, as well as the respective construction and planning processes, will be examined in more detail for the cities of Hannover and Chemnitz. The discussion will focus on the solutions found for the same construction task against the backdrop of each region's unique political context and how they have shaped the urban landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the approach used to identify the most relevant chronological information on the historic development of the abandoned site of AlUla Old Town, in the northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Western Asia). The approach is based on the use of the radiocarbon method to date earth mortars samples and soil layers used to create the constructive sequence of some buildings and, in turn, the chronological evolution of the site. Eleven samples of organic material (i.e., charcoal and vegetable fibers) were carefully removed from mortar samples and soil levels from six buildings and structures in the northern and southern areas of the town. Buildings and soil layers were chosen for their stratigraphic relevance and conservation conditions, based on an initial archaeological analysis of both, buildings and underground structures. Laboratory-based mortar analysis led to the characterization of the mortar's inorganic fraction, and to the isolation of the organic material for the radiocarbon dating. Results from the accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) laboratory provides evidence of a Late Mamluk/Early Ottoman constructive phase (i.e., 15th–17th c. AD) of the Old Town that was only partially known until very recently. Furthermore, the results allowed the identification of an Ottoman phase (i.e., 17th–19th c. AD) during which most of the buildings and structures were rebuilt, and of a Late Ottoman phase (i.e., 19th–20th c. AD) representing the most recent interventions before the end of the Ottoman occupation of the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Berus television tower in Überherrn – a building archaeology on a high modernism building The knowledge of planning and realization on the basis of building archaeology represents a benefit in the research field of the construction history for concrete structures of the high modernism. It also forms the basis for sensitive and conservation‐oriented maintenance; in particular, the identification of concrete surfaces at the time of construction or later renovation measures can be determined in this way. Built in 1954, the expressionist‐looking transmission tower of the Berus transmitter in Überherrn is one of the first television towers in Germany. The Béton brut surface of the three concrete pillars with their formwork board imprints have been preserved in large parts. As part of the building archaeology, new high‐precision survey methods were used to create a detailed survey of the building, which was analyzed from various points of view and compared with the craftsmanship techniques used at the time of construction, also with a view to the question of what conclusions can be made if the building itself is considered as a source. In summary, the article provides a comprehensive view of the construction and construction history of a building which, together with the transmitter hall, which has been awarded the title "Historic Landmark of German Engineering", forms a successful overall architectural and engineering composition. At the same time, the described approaches and methods are intended for a transfer and future use on comparable concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Middle Ages and early modern period, masons inscribed symbols on dressed stonework and ashlars to identify the work of the individual or team that quarried or dressed the stone or of the workshop of origin. Other marks on stonework can provide instructions, such as the way to place the ashlar. Many of these marks still survive on the fabric of cathedrals, churches, palaces, important houses, castles, and other structures throughout Europe and beyond. This tradition journeyed from Europe to the New World with the stonemasons, although in the Americas very few have been reported. One of the buildings with masons' marks is the Cathedral of Santo Domingo (1521–1541) in the Dominican Republic on Hispaniola Island. In this study, 28 masons' marks were identified in 18 places inside and outside the cathedral: these included crosses, letters, geometric forms, and other symmetrical figures. All the marks are in discrete places, and most of them are difficult to find. So far, no scholars have reported stonemasons' marks on any building in the Caribbean. In the 16th century, the knowledge of construction techniques was a secret and transmitted from builder to builder through the guild or workshop. Therefore, these patterns serve as a tool to identify builders, their place of origin, construction methods, construction phases, and construction dates, among other things. For this reason, the aim of this research is to draw attention to masons' marks in the New World context as an aid to architectural history and archaeology, creating a database that will help to identify the masons who worked in the Americas in the 16th century, the dates of the construction phases, and the construction techniques they used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Architectonics & Architecture / Építés - Építészettudomány is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Throughout prehistory, earthen architecture has played a pivotal role in establishing a sustainable and easily maintainable built environment, showcasing humanity's capacity to design and construct intricate structures using eco-friendly and cost-effective materials. This special issue underscores the enduring significance of earthen architecture in our historical and contemporary understanding of sustainable building practices.

• Description of method used for dry-mounting the collapsed transverse arch of the nave of Notre-Dame de Paris. • Archeological analysis of voussoirs composing the transverse arch. • Archeological and geological examination of the vaults of the upper nave of Notre-Dame de Paris (tool marks, centering method) and proposed dating. During the fire in April 2019, part of the central vaulting of the nave of Notre-Dame de Paris collapsed beneath the impact of the fallen spire. The blocks composing the transverse arch were decontaminated, then subjected to archeological examination prior to attempting to dry-mount them (i.e., without mortar) on the ground. The purpose was to collect as much information as possible about the arch itself (its state of conservation, geometry, fashioning of the blocks, assembly, etc.), to consider the possibility of putting the fallen stones back in their original places, and more broadly to improve knowledge about mediaeval cathedral vaulting. This article describes the method used during this mounting, which took place in winter 2020/21. Five criteria of differing kind and importance guided decisions on where to place the voussoirs, which way round to position them, and which to associate with which. Three were taken into consideration from the outset, with the interpretation of two of these changing over time: the non-standardized dimension of the voussoirs (their thickness), the presence of a cross mark on one of the joint faces, and the presence of rectangular notches on the extrados of the blocks for housing the end of a centering system for constructing the vault compartments. Two other criteria were incorporated as work progressed, pertaining to the order in which the blocks were collected after the fire, and the geological facies of the stones, thus introducing the idea of degree of confidence. By the end of this operation, only four blocks had been placed with certainty. Nevertheless, the criteria thereby defined and their weighting have been used as a starting point for other investigation methods. In terms of archaeology, the observations carried out on this arch in these exceptional conditions suggest we should reconsider the dating of the nave vaulting, while throwing light more broadly on the relative chronology of building works on this landmark monument of Gothic architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article illustrates how changes in the sediment source, tempering strategies, and shaping process in early Neolithic earthen architecture in Aşıklı Höyük have a major impact on many aspects of techno-environmental know-how traces. Archaeological micromorphology analyses of sun-dried mudbricks (in Turkey, called a specific term: kerpiç), mortars, daub, and their paleoenvironmental contexts were used to examine the tempo and modes of exploitation of the local environment, and chaîne opératoire of kerpiç and mortar recipes, and the possible reasons behind the relationships among material choices, building forms, and wall construction techniques of the earlier inhabitants in Central Anatolia during the establishment of the early settlement, i.e., 8400–7750 BCE. The nature of and changes in the built environment can be traced especially through the mortar recipes that provide various insights into the agro-pastoral activities at the site, including middens, open areas, and penning deposits. During the early Neolithic occupation at Aşıklı Höyük, vegetal tempering occurred as a micro-invention and was developed in relation to the management of fecal and domestic waste used in construction materials. Furthermore, the variability of tempering strategies can be regarded as a cognitive development that resulted from the long-term learning and experimentation background of the Aşıklı people in kerpiç production. The main motivation behind these changes and testing of the recipes was the need for more durable and long-lasting construction of earthen buildings as used by this early sedentary community in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Frinco Castle (AT-Italy) was the focus of a critical requalification and restoration project and historical knowledge. The initial medieval nucleus was modified and enriched by other architectural parts giving the current shape over the centuries. These additions gave the castle its actual internal and external complexity and an extreme structural fragility: in 2014, a significant portion collapsed. The main objective of this work was to obtain 3D metric documentation and a historical interpretation of the castle for reconstruction and fruition purposes. The local administration has planned knowledge processes from 2021: an integrated 3D geodetic survey of the entire castle and stratigraphic investigations of masonries. Both surveys were essential for understanding the architectural composition as well as the historical evolution of the court. NURBS modelling and a stratigraphic analysis of masonries allowed for the implementation of 3D immersion related to the historical interpretation. Furthermore, this modelling choice was essential for virtually reconstructing the collapsed area and helping the restoration phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Architectonics & Architecture / Építés - Építészettudomány is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Using case studies from Aşıklı Höyük, Çatalhöyük, Boncuklu Tarla, Göbekli Tepe (all Turkey), and Monjukli Depe (southern Turkmenistan), this study presents a framework for in-depth research on prehistoric earthen architecture in southwestern and central Asia. It demonstrates the challenges and potential for innovative and comparative studies based on interdisciplinary approaches and the use of architectural, microstratigraphic, and microarchaeological analyses. Furthermore, it sheds new light on issues related to various aspects of building continuity which is commonly recognised as a very important phenomenon in the Neolithic but could have different facets. The study attempts to discuss the reasons behind the local decisions to use and recycle specified building materials. In addition, it evaluates – in relation to particular sites – the usefulness of specific analyses for reconstruction of daily, seasonal, or annual practices. Advanced analyses of floors and fire installations, for instance, can contribute not only to the identification of indoor and outdoor surfaces but also to a better understanding of activity areas and the intensity of use within particular spaces. Variations and different combinations of mudbrick, mortar, and plaster recipes allow for insights into how earth and sediment material were used to mark collective and individual identity through the performance of a building. Recognising reused materials and features allows us to trace further the nature of prehistoric societies and local architectural dialects.

The cloister from the old monastery of San Francisco (Cazalla de la Sierra, Seville) has been suffering a series of remodeling transformations from its original construction in the 16th century to the current day. Thus, a study of building archaeology needed to be accomplished by using photogrammetric techniques by SfM (Structure from Motion) and laser scanning or TLS (Terrestrial Laser Scanning), which ensure the geometric exactitude and high resolution of the facings surveying. For that, over 500 images were taken for the 4 existing facings (about 78 lineal meters) from which a photogrammetric model was obtained of over 50 million polygons, as well as a cloud of over 40 million points from the laser scanning. It can be concluded that by using the techniques of SfM, the task of documenting, analyzing and studying the facings of the historical building in order to establish its evolutional process gains not only precision and exactitude but also opens the possibility to go further by obtaining products that are capable of helping us conserve, restore and protect the historical heritage, as well as generate the 3D virtualizations planned for the diffusion.

Copyright of Architectonics & Architecture / Építés - Építészettudomány is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Digital surveying tools provide a highly accurate geometric representation of cultural heritage sites in the form of point cloud data. With the recent advances in interoperability between point cloud data and Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital heritage researchers have introduced the Heritage/Historic Information Modelling (HBIM) notion to the field. As heritage data require safeguarding strategies to ensure their sustainability, the process is closely tied to conservation actions in the architectural conservation field. Focusing on the intersection of the ongoing trends in HBIM research and the global needs for heritage conservation actions, this paper tackles methodological pipelines for the data-driven management of archaeological heritage places. It illustrates how HBIM discourse could be beneficial for easing value-based decision-making in the conservation process. It introduces digital data-driven conservation actions by implementing a novel methodology for ancient building remains in Erythrae archaeological site (Turkey). The research ranges from a) surveying the in-situ remains and surrounding stones of the Heroon remains with digital photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning to b) designing a database system for building archaeology. The workflow offers high geometric fidelity and management of non-geometric heritage data by testing out the suitability and feasibility for the study of material culture and the physical assessment of archaeological building remains. This methodology is a fully data-enriched NURBS-based (non-uniform rational basis spline) three-dimensional (3D) model—which is integrated and operational in the BIM environment— for the holistic conservation process. Using a state-of-the-art digital heritage approach can be applied from raw data (initial stages) to decision-making about an archaeological heritage site (final stages). In conclusion, the paper offers a method for data-driven conservation actions, and given its methodological framework, it lends itself particularly well to HBIM-related solutions for building archaeology.

The cloister from the old monastery of San Francisco (Cazalla de la Sierra, Seville) has been suffering a series of remodeling transformations from its original construction in the 16th century to the current day. Thus, a study of building archaeology needed to be accomplished by using photogrammetric techniques by SfM (Structure from Motion) and laser scanning or TLS (Terrestrial Laser Scanning), which ensure the geometric exactitude and high resolution of the facings surveying. For that, over 500 images were taken for the 4 existing facings (about 78 lineal meters) from which a photogrammetric model was obtained of over 50 million polygons, as well as a cloud of over 40 million points from the laser scanning. It can be concluded that by using the techniques of SfM, the task of documenting, analyzing and studying the facings of the historical building in order to establish its evolutional process gains not only precision and exactitude but also opens the possibility to go further by obtaining products that are capable of helping us conserve, restore and protect the historical heritage, as well as generate the 3D virtualizations planned for the diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Frinco Castle (AT-Italy) was the focus of a critical requalification and restoration project and historical knowledge. The initial medieval nucleus was modified and enriched by other architectural parts giving the current shape over the centuries. These additions gave the castle its actual internal and external complexity and an extreme structural fragility: in 2014, a significant portion collapsed. The main objective of this work was to obtain 3D metric documentation and a historical interpretation of the castle for reconstruction and fruition purposes. The local administration has planned knowledge processes from 2021: an integrated 3D geodetic survey of the entire castle and stratigraphic investigations of masonries. Both surveys were essential for understanding the architectural composition as well as the historical evolution of the court. NURBS modelling and a stratigraphic analysis of masonries allowed for the implementation of 3D immersion related to the historical interpretation. Furthermore, this modelling choice was essential for virtually reconstructing the collapsed area and helping the restoration phase.

This paper describes the case study of the damaged church of St. Francesco in the hamlet of Arquata del Tronto (Italy) that was struck by the earthquake in 2016. The municipality commissioned the research to support the preliminary design of the preservation plan. The first digitisation level has been started from the richness of surveying data acquired from static and dynamic terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), and photogrammetry, overcoming challenging constraints due to the scaffolding covering the surfaces. The geometric survey allowed authors to acquire massively geometric and material information supporting the three-dimensional (3D) volume stratigraphic and the creation of the Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM). The paper proposes a shift from the Geographic Information System (GIS)-based analysis of the materials toward spatial HBIM management. Building Archaeology is turned into HBIM 3D volume stratigraphy, overcoming the bidimensional (2D) surface mapping, in favour of a 3D understanding of direct and indirect sources. Material mapping is added to HBIM 3D volume stratigraphy, and each stratigraphic unit (SU) has its proprieties. The 3D volume stratigraphic database has been designed to collect the data on the unit detection at three levels (direct sources data collection, indirect data documentation, the relation among the BIM object elements). A common data environment (CDE) has been set up to share the 3D volume informative models that can be accessed, and all the information gathered. The knowledge transfer using the eXtended reality (XR) has been devoted to the citizen and tourist fruition, enhancing the comprehension of difficult concepts like the SUs to support a better critical 3D reconstruction. It includes the phases of construction across time-lapse documentation that validates related information within the building archaeology informative models leaving spaces to the uncertainty and documenting the relationship established so far thanks to the direct and indirect sources. The result obtained is a live digital twin that can be continuously updated, which justifies the costs and time demanding of HBIM despite 2D drawings. Highlights: • 3D survey and scan-to-HBIM process for the creation of a digital twin were oriented to the preliminary design of the preservation plan of the church of St. Francesco in Arquata del Tronto (Italy). • Stratigraphy is investigated and oriented towards a digitisation process to share different levels of knowledge through new forms of digital-sharing such as Common Data Environment (CDE) and cloud-based BIM platform. • eXtended reality (XR) is the final tool to reach new levels of communication and a wider audience characterised by experts in the construction sector and virtual and non-expert tourists.

The archaeological study of the central building of the Belvoir fortress has revealed that a great number of iron staples were used in the construction of the exterior facings. Beside the fact that this unusual process required an exceptionally high supply of metal for this specific work, the reasons for such an execution raise questions. The central building of Belvoir castle was constructed according to a regular square plan around the courtyard, flanked in the corners by four square towers and a porch tower in the middle of the west façade. The staples are observed only on the exterior facings of the peripheral walls of the keep and the towers, at the level of the basalt embankments. Questions relating to the site first affect the distribution of these staples and their role in the construction: they are not only present at the level of the arrow-slits, which they consolidate, but also more regularly with each siding course of the embankments and near the quoining blocks connecting the towers to the central building. These clues tend to demonstrate a constructive and structural role of staples.

Copyright of Architectus is the property of Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wroclawskiej and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research investigates the utilisation of the scan-to-HBIM-to-XR process and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry to improve the depiction of archaeological ruins, specifically focusing on the Claudius Anio Novus aqueduct in Tor Fiscale Park, Rome. UAV photogrammetry is vital in capturing detailed aerial imagery of the aqueduct and its surroundings. Drones with high-resolution cameras acquire precise and accurate data from multiple perspectives. Subsequently, the acquired data are processed to generate orthophotos, drawings and historic building information modelling (HBIM) of the aqueduct, contributing to the future development of a digital twin. Virtual and augmented reality (VR-AR) technology is then employed to create an immersive experience for users. By leveraging XR, individuals can virtually explore and interact with the aqueduct, providing realistic and captivating visualisation of the archaeological site. The successful application of the scan-to-HBIM-to-XR process and UAV photogrammetry demonstrates their potential to enhance the representation of building archaeology. This approach contributes to the conservation of cultural heritage, enables educational and tourism opportunities and fosters novel research avenues for the comprehension and experience of ancient structures.

This study summarises research progress to identify appropriate quality methodologies for representing, interpreting, and modelling complex contexts such as the Claudian Aqueduct in the Appian Way Archaeological Park. The goal is to intrinsically integrate (embed) geometric survey (Laser scanning and photogrammetric) with the materials and construction techniques (Stratigraphic Units—SU), semantic models in order to support the design with a better understanding of the artefact considered, and also to give indications that can be implemented in the future in a continuous cognitive process. Volume stratigraphic units in the form of architectural drawings, heritage building information modelling (HBIM) and extended reality (XR) environments have been oriented to comparative analyses based on the research case study's complex morphology. Analysis of geometries' intersection, construction techniques and materials open up new cognitive scenarios, self-feeding a progressive knowledge and making different studies correlatable, avoiding diaspora or incommunicability. Finally, an extended reality (XR) platform aims to enhance tangible and intangible values through new human-computer interaction and information sharing levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Virtual Archaeology Review is the property of Virtual Archaeology Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Virtual Archaeology Review is the property of Virtual Archaeology Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archeologia dell'Architettura is the property of Edizioni all'Insegna del Giglio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Alcazaba of Guadix (Granada, Spain) is an Andalusi urban fortress that underwent many transformations since the outset of its construction in the 11th century. It was analysed through the method of Building Archaeology, that is, by means of a combination of stratigraphic analyses and the characterisation of its constructive techniques. Each analysis is based on a three-dimensional photogrammetric map of the entire feature. The study also relied on the findings of a series of archaeological excavations to offer a vision of the changes its structures underwent over time in parallel with an increase of its importance by the succession of powers. The Alcazaba of Guadix is a remarkable example of the implantation of Andalusi power and its architectural expression in medium-sized cities following the reign of the Caliphate of Cordoba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1913, a so-called Moon Bridge was built in the Japanese garden of the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, USA as a fruit of the Japonism in the Western world at that time. The master carpenter was Toichiro Kawai, a Japanese immigrant from Yokohama who was originally a ship carpenter.The bridge is made of wood and shaped in the exaggerated arch form, which classifies the bridge as a “drum bridge” (Taiko-bashi) in Japanese culture. However, the unique structural form of this bridge, the “woven arch,” is rare in building history.This paper aims to explore why and how such a bridge appeared in such a place and time. For this purpose, we go from the historical background to its construction history, from the concept of the designer to the detailed design methods. Data come partly from the author's first-hand investigation and the limited local archive. The most interesting discoveries were made during the detailed on-site investigation, including the fact that the bridge is designed to express the metaphor of “perfection” (full moon) through its geometrical features, and the design is based according to traditional Japanese methods.

Within the Topical Collection, this paper represents an introductory contribution aimed at describing and discussing the research questions and the sampling criteria in the field of mortars, plasters and pigments studies. The paper is divided into three parts. In the first part, some terminological issues are clarified and the building archaeology is introduced as an indispensable method for sampling and interpreting archaeometric results. In the second part, the most common research questions are presented and discussed. Some case studies are also reported to clarify what the expected results may be. The sampling problem is faced in the third part, where the criteria for a representative, functional and suitable selection are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Santo: Rivista Francescana di Storia Dottrina Arte is the property of Associazione Centro Studi Antoniani and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study summarises research progress to identify appropriate quality methodologies for representing, interpreting, and modelling complex contexts such as the Claudian Aqueduct in the Appian Way Archaeological Park. The goal is to intrinsically integrate (embed) geometric survey (Laser scanning and photogrammetric) with the materials and construction techniques (Stratigraphic Units—SU), semantic models in order to support the design with a better understanding of the artefact considered, and also to give indications that can be implemented in the future in a continuous cognitive process. Volume stratigraphic units in the form of architectural drawings, heritage building information modelling (HBIM) and extended reality (XR) environments have been oriented to comparative analyses based on the research case study’s complex morphology. Analysis of geometries’ intersection, construction techniques and materials open up new cognitive scenarios, self-feeding a progressive knowledge and making different studies correlatable, avoiding diaspora or incommunicability. Finally, an extended reality (XR) platform aims to enhance tangible and intangible values through new human-computer interaction and information sharing levels.

As 3D scanning and photogrammetry are supplanting traditional illustration techniques with increasing speed, archaeologists and architectural historians have sounded alarms about what stands to be lost if hand drawing is altogether eliminated from fieldwork. This paper argues that the most direct threat is to a particular form of archaeological illustration which does not necessarily share the advantages attributed to other kinds of drawing. Recording by means of “technical drawing” communicates a collectively agreed interpretation of the ancient record, and its primary benefit is not stimulating creative thought but rather enhancing human observation. A review of two cases comparing the illustration of ancient Greek architecture through analogue and digital methods indicates that, in practice, both approaches draw attention away from the ancient subject and focus it on distracting protocols for the great majority of the time spent in the field. Even so, technical drawing requires protracted, in-person scrutiny of the subject, whereas 3D technologies pose a genuine risk of altogether eliminating meaningful human interpretation from the recording process. The greater efficiencies of digital techniques suggest a path forward, as time once allocated to tedious stages of technical drawing might be applied toward more thoughtful interpretive tasks. However, such measures must be deliberately integrated into a digital research program through planning around the very different cadences of the digital process.

Surveying the rural village of Al-Jāyyah (Ma’an Governorate, Jordan): archaeological methodologies and first results. A contribution to the knowledge of the Shawbak territorial settlement in the longue durée This paper presents some preliminary results about systematic Light Archaeology surveys (integrating Building and Landscape Archaeology) that the author is leading in the village of Al-Jāyyah, SE ofthe Shawbak castle, within the archaeological investigations on the landscape surrounding the fortress managed by the Italian archaeological Mission‘Medieval Petra,’ University of Florence. The aim of the surveys is to investigate the historical connection between the castle and the village, suggested by some Medieval written sources. The research’s preliminary outcomes are confirming that even if the present appearance of the village is modern, it preserves significant Medieval material evidences plausibly linked to the Crusader suburb and the Islamic madīnah of Shawbak.

Copyright of Archeologia Postmedievale is the property of Edizioni all'Insegna del Giglio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In 1913, a so-called Moon Bridge was built in the Japanese garden of the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, USA as a fruit of the Japonism in the Western world at that time. The master carpenter was Toichiro Kawai, a Japanese immigrant from Yokohama who was originally a ship carpenter. The bridge is made of wood and shaped in the exaggerated arch form, which classifies the bridge as a "drum bridge" (Taiko-bashi) in Japanese culture. However, the unique structural form of this bridge, the "woven arch," is rare in building history. This paper aims to explore why and how such a bridge appeared in such a place and time. For this purpose, we go from the historical background to its construction history, from the concept of the designer to the detailed design methods. Data come partly from the author's first-hand investigation and the limited local archive. The most interesting discoveries were made during the detailed on-site investigation, including the fact that the bridge is designed to express the metaphor of "perfection" (full moon) through its geometrical features, and the design is based according to traditional Japanese methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Virtual Archaeology Review is the property of Virtual Archaeology Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Building archaeology (Historische Bauforschung) is an internationally renowned methodology for investigating historic buildings in research, heritage preservation and planning. It is a hands-on process which documents the geometry, construction, materiality, usage, form, and meaning of buildings and makes it possible to trace the processes of their creation throughout the various layers of time embodied in their fabric. Despite the extensive use of digital tools within its workflows, building archeology has not yet embraced the digital age as firmly as other disciplines. While the research community has long been interconnected via societies and conferences, there still is no digital platform for the overarching valorisation of scientific building documentations. The project baureka.online, a research data repository, catalogue and archive for building archeology in the German-speaking area, seeks to provide an innovative answer to this desideratum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some preliminary results about systematic Light Archaeology surveys (integrating Building and Landscape Archaeology) that the author is leading in the village of Al-Jāyyah, SE of the Shawbak castle, within the archaeological investigations on the landscape surrounding the fortress managed by the Italian archaeological Mission 'Medieval Petra,' University of Florence. The aim of the surveys is to investigate the historical connection between the castle and the village, suggested by some Medieval written sources. The research's preliminary outcomes are confirming that even if the present appearance of the village is modern, it preserves significant Medieval material evidences plausibly linked to the Crusader suburb and the Islamic madīnah of Shawbak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses some enhancements concerning 3D modelling, and the integration and comparison of 3D data from aerial and terrestrial sensors, developed by innovative geomatics techniques around the metric documentation of cultural heritage. In archaeology, it is interesting to deal with the considerable advantages of new multi-sensor approaches for the data acquisition and the management phases in terms of the sustainability (automated acquisition, quickness, precision, time and cost cutting). In particular, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs)photogrammetry with the joint use of nadir and oblique cameras can be usefully combined with the large-scale details acquired by the terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)in vast areas or complex objects, especially in mostly vertical sized objects. Here, we will report the results of an integrated 3D survey in an archaeological context in the Piedmont region of Italy. The Hercules Fountain is located in the gardens of the Venaria Reale (a Savoy Royal Palace included in the UNESCO heritage list) and has witnessed several events and historical phases during the past centuries–from its construction in the 16thcentury to its disuse and decline in the 17thcentury, right up to the 21stcentury when it was eventually brought back to light. The goal of the test is the creation of a3D continuous model of the site for documentation purposes, future consolidation, and enhancement projects finalised fora public promotion. To meet these strategic aims, a terrestrial laser scanning (TLS henceforth) survey has been designed together with multi-flights by a multi-rotor UAV and terrestrial close-range photogrammetry (CRP) acquisition to produce a highly detailed 3D textured model from which we have inferred standard 2D drawings, digital orthoimages, and further 3D products. In conclusion, the entire workflow and the outputs have been compared together to evaluate the effectiveness of each elaboration according to the different goals of the survey.

Copyright of Stratum Plus Journal is the property of P.P. Stratum plus and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Mamluk dynasty (1250-1517) succeeded the Ayyubids in Egypt and Syria. From 1260, and for 260 years, construction projects and different types of buildings were sponsored by sultans, emirs, and members of the elite in Cairo, Damascus and Jerusalem as well as in smaller towns and regions on the outskirts of the Mamluk sultanate. Although the existing architecture from the Mamluk period is generally well known in Egypt and Syria, this is not always the case in other countries. In present-day Jordan, which was divided administratively into two large mamlakats, there are many sumptuous examples of mamluk buildings that still have yet to be investigated with the necessary attention. The case study analysed here is the castrum/qalat Kerak in the late 13th and the first half of 14th century, where an exceptional example of Mamluk palatine architecture is partially preserved. According to written historical sources, this reception hall (or qā'a) called Qā'at al-Nahhās can be attributed to al-Nāsir Muhammad ibn Qalāwūn (1310-1341), one of the most distinguished figure of the Mamluk sultanate. This paper will undertake to clarify the construction process of Mamluk royal spaces in Kerak as evidence of the Mamluk dynasty's power and stability, using the methods of "Light Archaeology" (building stratigraphy, in particular) already used by the Italian archaeological mission (University of Florence) at Petra and Shawbak (Medieval Petra project). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]