Proceedings 18 lh International Symposium CIPA 2001 
Potsdam (Germany), September 18 - 21, 2001 
DOCUMENTATION OF THE PALMYRENE TOWER-TOMBS IN SYRIA 
USING TERRESTRIAL PHOTOGRAMMETRY 
- ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND PHOTOGRAMMETRIC RESULTS - 
André Brail, Michael Breuer 1 , A. Henning 2 , Fabian Hohmuth 3 , Olaf Priimm, Torsten Stamm 
Technical University Berlin, Germany 
Department Photogrammetry and Cartography 
andre|oli|torsten@fpk.tu-berlin.de 
'Geosystems GmbH, Germany 
m.breuer@geosystems.de 
2 University Cologne, Germany 
Archaeological Institute 
agnes.henning@epost.de 
’LH Systems, San Diego, USA 
hohmuth@lh-systems.com 
KEY WORDS: Archaeology, Digital Photogrammetry, Low Cost Sources, Visualization 
ABSTRACT 
Investigations about the potential of modern photogrammetric methods are presented in the context of an archaeological project, 
including the capturing and modeling process of three-dimensional data of archaeological objects. 
The background of this research was an archeological expedition to Palmyra (Syria) in March 1999. Over 23 meter high tower 
buildings were used as burial places in the first century A.D. and are subject to ongoing research. Many questions about their history 
still have to be answered. 
Exact knowledge of the geometrical structure of each tower is a prerequisite of any archaeological study. However, manual capturing 
of this data can be time-consuming and hence expensive. It is discussed how archaeologists can benefit from photogrammetry as an 
alternative. The most important result for the archaeologist is the exact documentation of the masonry, which is the base for the 
determination of the chronology of the tower-tombs. Apart from that it is now possible to discern the different building periods. The 
construction techniques give insights into the cultural circumstances under which the employers of these tombs were living. This is 
especially important since there are no literary sources. 
Key requirements were facade maps. The five best conserved tower-tombs were selected to be measured. For the very first time the 
geometry of each building was captured and is now precisely documented. Under the harsh climate conditions natural erosion 
continues. The site is not secured and therefore open to acts of vandalism and willful destruction. Currently there is no conservation 
activity. 
The documentation of the photogrammetric work starts with the description of a standard photogrammetric processing chain. 
Subsequently modern methods are examined. Finally a digital object model is visualized using the virtual reality modeling language 
(VRML). 
The standard processing consists of an analog terrestrial photogrammetric camera (TMK 6, Zeiss) and an analytical stereoplotter 
(DSR 11, Leica, former Kern). The investigated modern methods are consequently based on digital image processing. Additional 
images come from a réseau camera (Rollei 6006 metric) and a digital camera (Olympus Camedia 1400 L). All analog imagery was 
digitized using a desktop scanner (Opal Ultra, Linotype-Hell). 
Two digital photogrammetric workstations (DPW) (PHODIS, Z/I Imaging and Stereo Analyst, ERDAS) are compared with the 
analytical stereoplotter. The automated creation of digital facade surface models is investigated. Images from the Olympus Camedia 
1400 L were used to answer questions concerning accuracy and reliability of a lowcost digital camera. Further tests were performed 
using small targets (table tennis balls) arranged along plumb lines. In which way observations to the balls can be introduced to a 
bundle adjustment is shown using the software Pictran (technet). 
1. INTRODUCTION 
The project was initiated in 1998 on inquiry of archaeologist Agnes Henning from University Cologne and coordinated by 
photogrammetrist Michael Breuer at Technical University Berlin (now affiliated with Geosystems GmbH). The photogrammetric 
work was carried out by four Master students of the Technical University Berlin. Supervision of field surveys in Syria was done in 
March 1999 by Agnes Henning and photogrammetrist Fabian Hohmuth (now affiliated with LH Systems). Detailed archaeological 
results will be published in Agnes Henning’s Ph.D. thesis in the near future [Henning 2001]. All photogrammetric results are 
compiled in three Master theses [Brail, 2000], [Priimm, 2001], [Stamm, 2001].