GEOMETRICAL STUDY OF MIDDLE KINGDOM FUNERARY COMPLEXES IN QUBBET EL-HAWA (ASWAN, EGYPT) BASED ON 3D MODELS

This study describes the methodology developed and the main results obtained when analysing the geometrical behaviour of three adjacent burial structures located in southern Egypt. The rock-cut tombs are composed of complex geometries such as halls, corridors, chambers and vertical shafts. Among other determining aspects, this complexity greatly conditioned the data acquisition and processing work. In this context, the main objective of this study was to develop a new methodology for obtaining geomatic products that support a complete geometrical analysis of the tombs. The researchers have used photogrammetric and laser scanning surveys to obtain accurate 3D models on a common reference system. The procedure used included obtaining several secondary products, such as several geometries (planes and cylinders) fitted from point clouds or plans and sections obtained from the 3D models. The geometric analysis has included several aspects: dimensions, proportions, orientations, wall flatness, inclinations, etc., and it is based on these products. The results obtained suggest and confirm several hypotheses about the constructive aspects of these hypogea based on a large amount of data, including the determination of a proportional canon used by the ancient Egyptians to plan and perform the excavation works of each funerary structure. The application of this methodology has demonstrated that this type of analysis is viable to unveil some important aspects of these structures and the constructive procedures carried out almost four millennia ago.

Automated summary

This study presents a new methodology for analyzing the geometrical behavior of burial structures in southern Egypt. The researchers used photogrammetric and laser scanning surveys to obtain accurate 3D models, enabling a complete geometrical analysis. The results suggest that the ancient Egyptians had a proportional canon for planning and constructing these hypogea, which was confirmed by a large amount of data extracted from the 3D models.