The 3D virtual restitution of historical buildings using photogrammetry: A case study of the Dungeon-Cistern structure in the Ancient City of Dara (Anastasiopolis), Mardin

Abstract

To accurately document cultural heritage buildings, a preliminary study phase that assesses
the building's characteristics is crucial. Historical data is necessary to have a basic
understanding of the building's past, so both geometric surface surveys and in-depth historical
and archival research should be conducted. In recent years, 3D digitization and geomatics
technologies have been applied in the field of cultural heritage, particularly for documentation
and preservation purposes. The goal is to document and preserve the significant historical
features (form, appearance) of a cultural heritage structure along with relevant data, in case
of natural or other damages. In this context, the purpose of the presented paper is to propose
the restitution of the Zindan-Sarnıç structure in Dara (Anastasiopolis) ancient city, which is a
unique cultural heritage site, through a three-dimensional model created using
photogrammetry. The documentation/survey, dating/reconstruction,
conservation/restoration, and consolidation interventions, including the three-dimensional
model, encompass the identification of problems related to the structure and its immediate
surroundings, determining the life process/history and values/potentials from its
construction periods to the present, and establishing the fundamental principles and
approaches for the conservation and consolidation interventions of the structure.