{"title":"Spatial and hydrological analysis of the water supply system in as-Sila'/Sela (Tafila, Jordan) based on a 3D model","authors":"Roser Marsal, Jesús García-Carpallo","doi":"10.4995/var.2024.19977","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"The research described below proposes a spatial analysis of the hydraulic infrastructure, and settlement remains, as well as a topographic analysis of the site of as-Sila'/Sela on the southern Transjordan plateau. The authors designed Sela's first photogrammetric model from aerial photographs provided by the \"Aerial Photographic Archive for Archaeology in the Middle East (APAAME)\" project. This modelling has enabled the research team to locate new hydraulic structures, settlement remains, marks on vertical facing, and elevated or levelling platforms hitherto unidentified by a pedestrian survey; it was also possible to obtain more detailed direct and indirect relationships between these features. The 3D model has provided a reference for locating the various elements and correlating their surface with the topographic coordinates recorded by the total station during fieldwork. Additionally, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was derived from the 3D model to depict the flow direction of run-off. Through our analysis, we identified spaces for accessing, managing, and utilising available water resources, including settlement density and flooding zones. The hydrological analysis revealed potential run-off and flood-prone areas, guiding the location of hydraulic structures to prevent water contamination. This study highlights the importance of Sela's water supply systems and the technical expertise of ancient communities in their construction and management. The applicability and feasibility of the applied methodology emphasise its use as a powerful and indispensable tool to obtain a complete overview of the site. The results yield a comprehensive site mapping with a broader scope than previous research and provide a basis for further research, as well as for understanding the site's water supply and settlement patterns. Thus, this study enhances the hydro-technological investigation of Sela's water management and culture and contributes to its holistic analysis. Future studies can use the data to propose effective water management strategies and shed light on the social structures involved in water supply practices.","PeriodicalId":44206,"journal":{"name":"Virtual Archaeology Review","volume":"23 20","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2023-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Virtual Archaeology Review","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2024.19977","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"0","JCRName":"ARCHAEOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The research described below proposes a spatial analysis of the hydraulic infrastructure, and settlement remains, as well as a topographic analysis of the site of as-Sila'/Sela on the southern Transjordan plateau. The authors designed Sela's first photogrammetric model from aerial photographs provided by the "Aerial Photographic Archive for Archaeology in the Middle East (APAAME)" project. This modelling has enabled the research team to locate new hydraulic structures, settlement remains, marks on vertical facing, and elevated or levelling platforms hitherto unidentified by a pedestrian survey; it was also possible to obtain more detailed direct and indirect relationships between these features. The 3D model has provided a reference for locating the various elements and correlating their surface with the topographic coordinates recorded by the total station during fieldwork. Additionally, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was derived from the 3D model to depict the flow direction of run-off. Through our analysis, we identified spaces for accessing, managing, and utilising available water resources, including settlement density and flooding zones. The hydrological analysis revealed potential run-off and flood-prone areas, guiding the location of hydraulic structures to prevent water contamination. This study highlights the importance of Sela's water supply systems and the technical expertise of ancient communities in their construction and management. The applicability and feasibility of the applied methodology emphasise its use as a powerful and indispensable tool to obtain a complete overview of the site. The results yield a comprehensive site mapping with a broader scope than previous research and provide a basis for further research, as well as for understanding the site's water supply and settlement patterns. Thus, this study enhances the hydro-technological investigation of Sela's water management and culture and contributes to its holistic analysis. Future studies can use the data to propose effective water management strategies and shed light on the social structures involved in water supply practices.
期刊介绍:
Virtual Archaeology Review (VAR) aims the publication of original papers, interdisciplinary reviews and essays on the new discipline of virtual archaeology, which is continuously evolving and currently on its way to achieve scientific consolidation. In fact, Virtual Archaeology deals with the digital representation of historical heritage objects, buildings and landscapes through 3D acquisition, digital recording and interactive and immersive tools for analysis, interpretation, dissemination and communication purposes by means of multidimensional geometric properties and visual computational modelling. VAR will publish full-length original papers which reflect both current research and practice throughout the world, in order to contribute to the advancement of the new field of virtual archaeology, ranging from new ways of digital recording and documentation, advanced reconstruction and 3D modelling up to cyber-archaeology, virtual exhibitions and serious gaming. Thus acceptable material may emerge from interesting applications as well as from original developments or research. OBJECTIVES: - OFFER researchers working in the field of virtual archaeology and cultural heritage an appropriate editorial frame to publish state-of-the-art research works, as well as theoretical and methodological contributions. - GATHER virtual archaeology progresses achieved as a new international scientific discipline. - ENCOURAGE the publication of the latest, state-of-the-art, significant research and meaningful applications in the field of virtual archaeology. - ENHANCE international connections in the field of virtual archaeology and cultural heritage.