Preserving Mudbrick Architecture of the Tengiz-Korgalzhyn Depression with 3D Technologies

Introduction. The article describes a 3D documentation and visualization technique. Goals. The study seeks to preserve and reconstruct key forms and types of Kazakh memorial architecture with the aid of visual archeology tools. Materials and methods. The work started with determination of morphological characteristics inherent to the objects under study — mudbrick mausoleums. In accordance with the latter, a three-dimensional visualization technique was selected. The photography scenarios have been developed following recommendations of the software developers. The paper provides detailed insights into all stages of creating three-dimensional models, including data collection, feature description of the equipment used, pre-shooting computational analysis, shooting proper, and data post-processing. Special attention is paid to the most important and crucial moment of the survey — shooting, which was performed from different angles each to have yielded a distinguished set of photographs. It is urgent to take a sufficient number of high-quality photographs from different angles. A number of photographs for each angle should be as high as possible — from 30–40 to several hundreds and thousands. Results. The work notes that 6–8 sets were made for each mausoleum. Documentation of one object only (taking into account additional and spare photographs) includes a total of 500–600 photographs. Extensive efforts were made to process the obtained data, the latter work be implemented in a specific order to result in three-dimensional models and visualization patterns of the examined mausoleums. Preservation of mudbrick steppe monuments in digital format is an urgent need because those are a vanishing type of late medieval memorial architecture dating back to ancient times. Digital 3D-models of collapsing mudbrick mausoleums shall always be invaluable for science as historical sources, part of the Kazakh national cultural heritage.

1. Agisoft Metashape Pro 1.8.4. Available at: https://www.agisoft.com/downloads/installer/ (accessed: 08 November 2021). (In Eng.)

2. Agisoft PhotoScan User Manual: Professional Edition, Version 1.4. Copyright © 2018 Agisoft LLC. 2018. V, 121 p. (In Eng.)

3. Battalov K. K., Tleugabulov D. T., Dukombayev A. T., Saparova K. S. et al. Employing 3D Tools to Preserve Monuments of Mudbrick Architecture within Sacred Landscape of the Tengiz-Korgalzhyn Depression: Progress Report (Interim). Nur-Sultan, 2020. 67 p. At: Scientific Technical Information Center. Coll. АР08052281. File no. 0220РК01456. (In Russ.)

4. Borodkin L. I., Zherebyatiev D. I. Current trends in the development of virtual reconstruction of historical and cultural heritage: international experience. In: Borodkin L. I., Rumyantsev M. V., Baryshev R. A. (eds.) Virtual Reconstruction of Historical and Cultural Heritage in the Form of Scholarly Research and Learning Process. Collected papers. Krasnoyarsk: Siberian Federal University, 2012. Pp. 10–30. (In Russ.)

5. Bruno F., Bruno S., De Sensi G., Luchi M. L., Mancuso S., Muzzupappa M. From 3D reconstruction to virtual reality: A complete methodology for digital archaeological exhibition. Journal of Cultural Heritage. 2010. No. 11 (1). Pp. 42–49. (In Eng.)

6. Cattani M., Fiorini A., Rondelli B. Computer applications for a reconstruction of archaeological stratigraphy as a predictive model in urban and territorial contexts. In: Ausserer K. F., Börner W., Goriany M., Karlhuber-Vöckl L. (eds.) Enter the Past: The E-way into Four Dimensions of Cultural Heritage. CAA 2003. Conference proceedings (Vienna, 8–12 April 2003). BAR International Series 1227. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2004. Pp. 299–303. (In Eng.)

7. Dearborn D. S., Seddon M. T., Bauer B. S. Sanctuary of Titicaca: Where the Sun returns to Earth. Latin American Antiquity. 1998. No. 9 (3). Pp. 240–258. (In Eng.)

8. Gaisa A. M., Koshman T. V. Study of monuments in the Tengiz-Korgalzhyn Region. In: Gulyaev G. Yu. (ed.) World Science: Problems and Innovations. LIV Conference proceedings. Penza: Nauka i Prosveshchenie, 2021. Pp. 99–103. (In Russ.)

9. Goryachev A. A., Motov Yu. A. Butakty-I Archaeological Site. Almaty: KazBook Trade, 2018. 26 p. (In Russ.)

10. He J., Li Y., Zhang K. Research of UAV flight planning parameters. Positioning. 2012. Vol. 3. Pp. 43–45. (In Eng.)

11. Khabdulina M. K., Bonora Zh. L., Bilyalova G. D. Sacral map of Akmola: New materials reviewed. In: Tomilov N. A. et al. (eds.) Integration of Archaeological and Ethnographic Research. Symposium proceedings (Pavlodar, 19–21 September 2018). Omsk, Pavlodar: Nauka, 2018. Pp. 162–165. (In Russ.)

12. Khabdulina M. K., Kozhamzharov K. T., Yarygin S. A., Kaldybayev M. S., Sakenov S. K., Sviridov A. N. Cult Monuments of the Tengiz-Korgalzhyn Depression. Astana: Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 2011. 208 p. (In Russ.)

13. Lebedev A. V. Virtualization of museum or new thingness? In: Lebedev A. V. (comp.) Museum Engineering. A. Shcherbakova (ed.). Moscow: Russian Institute for Cultural Research, 2009. Pp. 77–97. (In Russ.)

14. Lowe D. G. Object recognition from local scale-invariant features. In: Proceedings of the Seventh IEEE International Conference on Computer Vision (Kerkyra, 20–27 September 1999). Vol. II. Los Alamitos, Washington, Brussels, Tokyo: IEEE Computer Society, 1999. Pp. 1150–1157. (In Eng.)

15. Pushkarev A. A., Zaytceva O. V., Vavulin M. V., Skorobogatova A. Y. 3D recording of a 19-century Ob River ship. In: The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. Vol. XLI-B5. XXIII ISPRS Congress proceedings (Prague, 12–19 July 2016). Pp. 377–381. DOI: 10.5194/isprs-archives-XLI-B5-377-2016 (In Eng.)

16. Reilly P. Computer Analysis of an Archaeological Landscape: Medieval Land Divisions on the Isle of Man. BAR British Series 190. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports, 1988. 226 p. (In Eng.)

17. Reilly P., Rahtz S. (eds.) Archaeology and the Information Age: A Global Perspective. London: Routledge, 1992. 420 p. (In Eng.)

18. Samashev Z., Ongar A., Oralbay E., Kiyasbek G. Kyzyluyik Sanctuary Temple. Astana: Arkheologiya, 2011. 200 p. (In Russ.)

19. Shivrina N. V. Cult rituals and architecture of North Kazakhstan, 17th–19th centuries. In: The Historical and Political Role of Astana. Conference reports. Astana: Executive Office of Astana Akim, 2005. Pp. 53–61. (In Russ.)

20. Stancic Z., Veljanovski T. (eds.) Computing Archaeology for Understanding the Past. CAA 2000. Conference proceedings (Ljubljana, April 2000). BAR International Series 931. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2001. 368 p. (In Eng.)

21. Tleugabulov D. T. Exploring sacred objects of Tengiz-Korgalzhyn Region. In: The Great Steppe in Archaeological and Interdisciplinary Studies. Margulan Readings – 2020. Conference proceedings (Almaty, 17–18 September 2020). Almaty: Margulan Institute of Archaeology, 2020. Vol. 2. Pp. 510–522. (In Russ.)

22. Tleugabulov D. T. Research of medieval cult monuments of Akmola Upper Ishim (Based on 2018 exploration material). Journal KazNU: History. 2019. No. 3 (94). Pp. 121–129. (In Russ.)

23. Ullman S. The interpretation of structure from motion. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Ser. B, Biol. Sci. 1979. Vol. 203. No. 1153. Pp. 405–426. (In Eng.)

24. Virtual reconstruction of Staraya (Old) Ladoga archaeological site — earliest capital of Russian State. On: Staraya (Old) Ladoga Reserve Museum (website). Available at: http://oldladoga.spbu.ru/index.htm (accessed: 10 March 2022). (In Russ.)

25. Virtual three-dimensional reconstruction of Ilurat (Iluraton) — ancient walled town, 1st–3rd centuries AD. On: Ilurat Project (website). Available at: http://ilurat.spbu.ru/ (accessed: 10 March 2022). (In Russ.)

26. Zaytseva O. V. ‘3D revolution’ in archaeological recording in Russian perspective. Siberian Historical Research. 2014. No. 4. Pp. 10–20. (In Russ.)

27. Zherebyatiev D. I. Application of the technique of the three-dimensional spatial analysis for studying of formation of city building and restoration of the cultural heritage on the example of the Tambov fortress. In: Information Bulletin of History and Computer Association. XI Conference proceedings. Vol. 35. Moscow, Barnaul, 2008. Pp. 62–63. (In Russ.)

28. Zherebyatiev D. I. Monuments of Russian History and Culture: Historical Reconstruction via 3D Computer Tools. Cand. Sc. (history) thesis abstract. Moscow, 2013. 27 p. (In Russ.)

29. Zherebyatiev D. I., Konchakov R. B. Using technology to create 3D games as a tool for preservation and reconstruction of historical monuments. In: History and Computer Association. X Conference proceedings. Vol. 34. Moscow, Tambov: Tambov State University, 2006. Pp. 12–13. (In Russ.)