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DIGITAL PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR THE ON SITE DOCUMENTATION OF
THE OASIS OF SIRWAH IN THE REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
J. Heckes* , A. Hornschuch*, U. Kapp”, N.Rôring”
“Deutsches Bergbau-Museum (DBM), Dept. Informationssysteme, Am Bergbaumuseum 28,
44791 Bochum, Germany - (juergen.heckes, annette.hornschuch)@bergbaumuseum.de
"Deutsches Archáologisches Institut (DAT), Architekturreferat, Podbielskiallee 69-71
14195 Berlin, - Germany —architektur@dainst.de
Commision V, Working Group 4
KEY WORDS: Archaeology, Architecture, Surveying, Photogrammetry, Application, Close Range, Orthorectification
ABSTRACT :
The Oasis of Sirwah, Republic of Yemen, with its Almaqah Temple (7™ century B. C.), one of the biggest sanctuaries of South-
Arabia, is investigated by the German Archaeological Institute in co-operation with the German Mining Museum. During the last
campaign it should be proved, if and under which conditions a maximally high manufacturing degree of the documentation works
can be achieved during the current work in the fields. A Workaround which optimise the interdisciplinary collaboration of
archaeologists, architects and photogrammetrists was elaborated for this purpose. To that different measurement procedures were
synchronised with each other: GPS Measurements, Tachometry and Photogrammetry - image registration procedures, - digital and
analogous - and evaluation procedures, vector- and raster based techniques. First results of the evaluations are represented
exemplary.
KURZFASSUNG:
In der Republik Jemen wird die Oase Sirwah mit dem Almaqah Tempel (7. Jahrhundert v. C. ), eines der größten Heiligtümer
Südarabiens, durch das Deutsche Archäologische Institut in Kooperation mit dem Deutschen Bergbau Museum erforscht. Während
der letzten Grabungskampagne sollte erprobt werden, wie und unter welchen Gegebenheiten ein möglichst hoher und sinnvoller
Fertigungsgrad der Dokumentationsarbeiten während der laufenden Feldarbeit erzielt werden kann. Dazu wurde ein Workaround
erarbeitet, der die interdisziplinäre Arbeit von Archäologen, Architekten, Vermessern und Photogrammetern optimiert. Hierzu
wurden verschiedene Messverfahren — GPS Messungen, Tachymetrie und Photogrammetrie- ‚Bildaufnahmeverfahren — digitale und
analoge - und Auswerteverfahren (Vektor- und Raster basierte Methoden) aufeinander abgestimmt. Erste Ergebnisse der
Auswertungen werden exemplarisch dargestellt, Schwierigkeiten bei der praktischen Ausführung erörtert und die Grenzen
aufgezeigt.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Oasis Sirwäh and the Almaqah Temple
Sirwäh is situated 80 km east of the modern capital Sanaa and
40 km west of Marib at the south-east edge of the Yemen
highlands in the area of Hawlan. From approximately 1000 BC
to the 1% - 2° century AD Sirwäh was the cultural, religious
and political centre of Saba. The oasis of Sirwah is still
archaeologically unexplored. Next to a sabaean settlement,
ancient irrigation buildings, relicts of a paved caravan route and
a plateau with several temple buildings were discovered.
Within this Sirwdah accommodates one of the most important
sacred buildings of South Arabia. It is a temple which is
dedicated to Almaqah, who was the patron god of the Sabaeans
and whose astral aspect was associated with the moon. The
temple dates back at least to the 7th century B. C. when two
monumental stone inscriptions were set up in its inner
courtyard. These are of utmost importance for the early history
of South Arabia.
From recent research it was learnt that the temple is situated in
the south-east of the town area of 220 m by 230 m, which
occupies a large outcrop enclosed by a massive fortification
wall. Part of the temple fagade is integrated into the
fortification. Most remarkable is a ca. 90 m long, oval
surrounding wall, made from extremely well dressed limestone
ashlars. Two propyla granted main access from the north-west,
leading into the open courtyard furnished with several smaller
installations. The architectural evolution of the monumental
complex is not yet fully understood but a detailed
documentation has started to provide information about the
furnishing, use and original appearance of the temple.
Figure 1: The Oasis Sirwah
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