Photogrammetry, Provenance, and Preservation of Tangible Heritage in the Khangai Mountains, Mongolia

Summary

This study presents results from the photogrammetric documentation of rock art in western Mongolia. Unlike many traditional rock art documentation techniques practiced in Mongolia, photogrammetry presents unique advantages for the study and preservation of cultural heritage. These include the production of a digital 3D model, preservation of color and original lighting conditions, ease of documentation, and the inclusion of contextual information such as surrounding features, panel orientation, and geologic context. Using photogrammetric techniques, we documented ten late Bronze Age standing stones and three separate rock art localities in the Khangai mountains of Bayankhongor province, western Mongolia. By taking images at different times of day, we were able to produce high-visibility images of "deer stone" stelae, obviating the need for chalk or other substances which can damage the stone surface. By integrating our data with aerial photography, we produced high-resolution digital maps of our study sites. Results suggest that 3D photogrammetry may be profitably integrated into future research of late Bronze Age monuments in Central Asia.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Human, Animal, and Environmental Interaction in Northeast Asia

Keywords

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16784