Reading Tools

The report presents the advantages of using ground and air laser scanning technology as a method for creating a 3D database and 3D documentation. This modern technology is an innovation that has the advantage of obtaining a large amount of data in a short time. The technology, together with specialized equipment and software, has the advantage of obtaining a digital model of the terrain and archaeological sites existing there. Creating 3D models of archaeological heritage, individual archaeological sites and rock-cut monuments in their current state requires equipment, knowledge and a powerful methodology with the ability to digitally capture and reflect geometric details and fine details of their morphology. Digital recording allows for documentation and serves for long-term preservation, because our rock-cut heritage (a mixture of natural and artificial origin) suffers from various anthropogenic and/or natural actions (natural disasters, climate change and oblivion from time). A virtual-physical space for storing and presenting digitized rock-cut monuments is shown. The space is realized with the help of integrated technology, including artificial intelligence tools. The advantages of laser technologies compared to the usual approaches for the development and interpretation of such artificial objects are discussed. The digitized rock-cut monuments in accordance with the standard for such objects are stored in distributed databases, implemented mainly as ontologies (description of the concepts and relations that exist in a specific subject area as that of the rock-cut monuments). The digital space provides the opportunity to link the monument with the celestial sphere, the main movements of the luminaries (Sun, Moon, bright planets) and specialized astronomical software. Using the 3D modeling method, two Bulgarian rock-cut monuments have been studied: the Belintash rock sanctuary near the Municipality of Asenovgrad and the cromlech near the village of Dolni Glavanak, Municipality of Madzharovo. It can be seen that semantic modeling of real archaeoastronomical concepts and the connections between the morphological elements of the monuments and notable objects in the sky are proven with a high degree of reliability. The ontologies used have been developed and used to include the archaeoastronomical objects in the list of Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage with an astronomical character.