Sand & stones: The Pylos Geoarchaeological Program

Abstract

The five-year research program entitled “Pylos Geoarchaeological Program – GEAPP” began activities in 2021. Among the goals of the Program that stand out are landscape reconstruction, the use of new technological tools for archaeological and environmental research, to inform local authorities about the rich cultural heritage and the special ecosystem, while contributing to the balanced and sustainable development of the area in collaboration with all the environmental, tourism, cultural, productivity organizations locally involved.During the extensive survey on the west coast of Messenia, in the Pylia area, on the Almyrolakka beach, a segment from what seems to be a wall structure is visible within the sand dunes. Photogrammetric survey of the “wall” was undertaken during the survey of the area, on three different occasions between a 12-month period from July 2021 – October 2022. The continuous monitoring of the structural remains offered a unique view of the rock formation’s increased exposure over time.Using an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), a high accuracy GNSS receiver and Total Station the formation was documented over three survey phases while being closely monitored during the 2022 rescue excavation of the remains. Digital documentation includes aerial survey, digitization of findings via photogrammetry and 3D modelling, photogrammetric documentation of the excavation stratigraphy etc.The low altitude, detailed documentation produced a high-resolution orthophoto and digital terrain model, useful in different applications. Stratigraphy sections from the photogrammetric processing were used to create a comparative scaled model of the changes through the 12-month period. Additionally, for documentation and testing purposes a 3D model of the wall remains, for each survey period, was generated. For representation purposes, a final model from the closing of the rescue excavation was recreated digitally.