xcavation 
) Yemen], Kairo 
). Die Dokumentation 
chte des Deutschen 
, Volume 1, Terra 
des Deutschen 
Archäologische 
), S. 126-128. 
Zu den materiellen und 
in: Nürnberger Blätter 
8-32. 
2001 Erdas, Inc. 
COMBINATION OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND EASY-TO-USE NON-METRIC 
METHODS FOR THE DOCUMENTATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS 
Guido HEINZ 
Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz, Ernst-Ludwig-Platz 2, 55116 Mainz, Germany 
and 
i3mainz, Institute for Spatial Information and Surveying Technology, FH Mainz, University of Applied Sciences, 
Holzstrasse 36, 55116 Mainz, Germany 
heinz@geoinform.fh-mainz.de 
Commission V, WG V/4 
KEY WORDS: Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, Close Range, Documentation, Non-Metric, Rectification, Visualization, Anaglyph 
Images 
ABSTRACT 
The geometric documentation of archaeological findings in excavations is expected to fulfill various demands. The work at the 
archaeological site shall be done in a short time, deliver accurate results which are easy to use and of high quality. And of course it is 
desired to be fast and cheap. This paper shows the approach in an excavation project in the PR China. The findings had to be 
documented geometrically to be able to put them back into the original find position after conservation treatment. First results had to 
be available quickly after finishing field work. Finally, metrically correct plans are needed later on after the conservation. This is 
achieved by the combination of non-metric imaging techniques and standard close range photogrammetry. Results are stereo 
anaglyph images, simple rectified image maps (without using height information) and vector maps of the outlines of the findings with 
discrete height indices. 
INTRODUCTION DEMANDS FOR THE DOCUMENTATION 
In co-operation with the Museum of Qin Terra-Cotta Warriors In the conception of the methods to be used and the planning for 
and Horses and the Shaanxi Archaeological Institute in Xi'an, the field work different demands had to be fulfilled: 
PR China, parts of the excavation in pit 6 of the ancient burial- e The field work must be completed within a few days. 
site of the first Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang had to be — e The first results, suitable for orientation, numbering and 
documented geometrically. In the pit, among other things nine removal of the findings prior to the conservation have to be 
horse skeletons have been found and laid bare. These bones are provided during the field campaign or shortly after. 
intended to be presented to visitors in the future in their original e The absolute accuracy of the position of single findings 
finding position. To accomplish this, they have to be treated by within the excavation field is not of highest importance. 
means of chemical conservation to avoid deterioration. For this e The final results for the repositioning of the single bones 
treatment, the single bones have to be taken out of the pit and must include 3D-information for the single findings. They 
put back into the original position afterwards. Thus, a can be processed later as the conservation itself needs 
geometrical documentation making this possible was required. some time. 
The bones are lying in a horizontal plane about 3.5 m below 
ground level in two locations with areas to record of about 2.5 x 
7.5 nr and L.5 x 3.0 nr. APPROACH 
The scenes to be recorded have a rather small extent in the 
vertical direction as compared to the horizontal extent. This 
allows a representation of the situation in horizontally 
orientated maps without the need to draw up views or maps 
from different directions respectively with different reference 
systems. The approach for this project is to use different 
techniques for the generation of the results needed. 
As the first results (or products) will be used for interpretation, 
orientation and numbering only, there is no need to use high 
accuracy metric techniques. More important is the easy and 
reliable identification of the single findings in the find situation 
and in relation to neighboring objects. This almost 
automatically leads to the use of image information of the find 
situation. Together with the need of fast results, the use of 
digital imaging and processing seems adequate. Using standard 
hardware (digital camera, laptop, inkjet printer) and easy-to-use 
software, the results can be completed in a rather short time. 
    
Figure 1. Pit 6 of the burial site of Qin Shi Huang 
ee 
  
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