Ein Blick unter Wasser : Untersuchung der Pfahlbausiedlung Mondsee mit optischer Bathymetrie

Abstract

The combination of archaeological research with scientific disciplines has been gaining in importance for years. Not only can scientific methods verify archaeological theories by recording and evaluating large amounts of data and precise measurements. They also enable large-scale documentation of archaeological sites with a level of efficiency that could not otherwise be achieved. As the already problematic preservation situation of material remains is becoming increasingly critical due to human-induced climate change, the importance of such documentation methods is also growing. As part of a measurement campaign in 2022, the Mondsee pile-dwelling settlement was documented using photogrammetry and laser bathymetry. Various models of the area of interest can be created in post-processing from the measurement data recorded in this way. These include detailed and true-to-scale overview maps of the site as well as digital terrain models of the lake bed. These are suitable for detecting and measuring the underwater features. Plastic elevations, such as the remains of posts and their extent and height, are recorded with high precision and can then be interpreted achaeologically. The wide-ranging data acquisition during bathymetry allows archaeological remains to be interpreted not only on their own but also in a common context. The combination of these models with orthophoto mosaics enables the colouring of the depicted area. An increasing problem for the preservation of pile-dwelling settlements is the falling water level of the lake. By creating water depth maps, this decline can be monitored and any necessary rescue measures can be taken. The sum of the models created in this way enables a comprehensive and precise analysis of pile dwelling settlements and thus provides an excellent supplement to conventional archaeological measures.