Close-Range Photogrammetry as a Reference Method for Making Detailed All-Level Excavation Plans

Abstract

One of the major problems that archaeology faces today is that the traditional (“manual”) methods of archaeological field data classification and archiving fail to meet the modern requirements in the context of accuracy and convenience. In this study, we assessed the utility of standard photogrammetry for creating excavation plans, as well as developed and tested new methods. All works were performed at the excavation sites of Bolghar, an ancient town in Tatarstan (Russia). The excavations varied in size and depth. The standard methods were found to often yield improper results for the following reasons: in useful if high-precision geodetic equipment is unavailable. Orthophotomaps are less precise than GNSS-based plans, but much more accurate than manual sketches. The results obtained during this study are important for the development of field archaeology. The recommendations given in this paper can be used by archaeologists in their daily work. Compliance with these recommendations guarantees high-precision excavation plans. It is expected that the proposed method-ology will become the basis for instructions on arrangement of archaeological excavations in the very near future.