Abstract
Abstract. The paper aims at presenting the historical sites of Niha (Beqaa valley, Lebanon), their cultural values, and the methodology applied in the assessment of these values through the use of 3D modelling. The whole cultural landscape comprises the current village of Niha (altitude 1100 m), the archaeological site of Hosn-Niha (altitude 1350m), and the area located between these two sites. Two rural sanctuaries constitute the major archaeological remains present in the landscape: the first, located in the village of Niha, is composed of two roman temples with various archaeological structures; the second is located at the top of an antique settlement 2,5 km above the village of Niha. This second sanctuary Hosn-Niha, includes two temples, one church, remnants of numerous structures, and remains of an antique village. The cultural and religious values of both these sites are clear. However, questions arise regarding the choice for establishing the sanctuaries in these locations. The aim of the research is to try to understand the reasons for the various settlements in relationship with the topography and the landscape. The methodology applied in the research addresses two levels: a – The landscape level, and b – the built-up archaeology level. The global 3D models of both the landscape and the sanctuaries allow us to understand the various relations between the landscape, the sanctuaries and the various archaeological structures. An assessment of the various cultural resources found around the sanctuaries, while considering the reasons for their specific placement in the landscape can shed light on the reasons of these choices.
Highlights
Religious landscape acquired by the analysis of the data set in the 3D model of the landscape surrounding the two Niha sites
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XL-5/W2, 2013 XXIV International CIPA Symposium, 2 – 6 September 2013, Strasbourg, France. This valley begins with 1- Hosn-Niha (1350m altitude) (Fig. 2) in a corridor facing the Northeast and goes towards the south-east in the vicinity of 2- an ancient quarry (~ 1210m altitude) (Fig. 3) before moving downstream to 3- Niha (~ 1100m) (Fig. 4) and reaches a kilometer away 4- the Beqaa Valley
One of the major results of the applied method was the understanding of the relations that link the various archaeological structures in the topography
Summary
Religious landscape acquired by the analysis of the data set in the 3D model of the landscape surrounding the two Niha sites. More than five rural sanctuaries were surveyed (Niha, Hosn-Niha, Faqra, Qsar-Naba, Ain Hersha, Hardine) An analysis of their cultural and archaeological landscape, their architecture, their built-up archaeology, and their history was undertaken. The valley begins in Mount Sannin descending into the Bekaa Valley (plain valley located between Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon at the border with Syria) in a sinuous manner (Fig. 1) This valley begins with 1- Hosn-Niha (1350m altitude) (Fig. 2) in a corridor facing the Northeast and goes towards the south-east in the vicinity of 2- an ancient quarry (~ 1210m altitude) (Fig. 3) before moving downstream to 3- Niha (~ 1100m) (Fig. 4) and reaches a kilometer away 4- the Beqaa Valley. The ancient trade route runs towards the East and continues towards Niha
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