3D Reconstruction of Archaeological Sites Using Photogrammetry

The 3D reconstructionof an archaeological site is a difficult task, taking into account the available documentation. Our team, supported by the TGE Adonis, is specialized in 3D reconstruction and conservation of 3D data. We already use numerous sources, like excavation documentation, ancient texts, any kind of representation, land surveys, in-situ pictures, laser or time of flight scannography, and experiments of archaeologists, anthropologists and architects. Since the 80's, each model we produce are scientifically checked by specialists, and regularly updated to follow new knowledges and investigations. In this paper, we present the use of photogrammetry to reconstruct a 3D model of an archaeological site, as a new source of data, less expensive and more accessible than scanners.We present concrete cases: a chapel (12 century p.C., Moissac, France), catacombs of St Pierre et Marcellin (250 p.C., Rome, Italy) and a roman coin (5 a.C., Loron, Croatia). The question of scale and texture mapping is explored through the software like photomodeler and PMVS. Finaly, we discuss the accuracy of photogrammetry in comparison to scanners, the accessibility of this technique to archaeologists, and the interest for fragile artefacts in museums.