With increased computing power, we are now able to present two larger models that document the final status of the excavation at the end of the 2016 season.
The first shows the North Building, likely a support building and perhaps living quarters for the community maintaining the Northeast Church:
The second shows the entire House of Tyche. It is a very large file and may require several attempts to load it over the internet.
Photogrammetry holds much promise for the documenting of archaeological work, as we have demonstrated over the last two years.
I have been experimenting recently with additional techniques.
As you may recall, one student recovered a small Byzantine storage jar that was intact.
But when I tried to make a 3D model of the jar, the result failed.
The software could not find points on the jar to construct the bottom.
I have also attempted to make models of larger sections of the site. My first attempt at the south half of the House of Tyche came out rather well, except for a hole in the west wall next to Cardo 3N.
More attempts to follow.
Day 8 saw both teams opening new areas in the North Building. With the Sea of Galilee as a backdrop, it is a most beautiful place to work.
Work on the eastern section of the Hours of Tyche and Cordo 4 North is now complete. We present the final model here:
Eastern storage room & Cardo 4N on 12 July 2016
by Dr. Mark Schuler
on Sketchfab
I close with a bit of a surprise. We removed a blockage in Cardo 3 North near the south entrance to the North Building. Much to our surprise, we found a blocked doorway to the House of Tyche with a decorated lintel still in situ and decorated door jambs. The door hails from early in the history of the house when Cardo 3 North dropped off down toward the north wall of the city. The stone work is worn but quite impressive.
Using photos from the 2014 season and a technique call photogrammetry, Jackie Wiebold has constructed a 3D model of the small room built over the remains of the southeast corner of the House of Tyche. Work on that room was completed this summer. Join the excavation (virtually) and explore the area for yourself!
Excavation in the summer of 2013 begins on Sunday 30 June. The Concordia team will leave one week earlier (on Sunday 23 June) and arrive in Israel on 24 June. We will travel first to Jerusalem where we will stay for three nights on the Old City. We will tour Christian and archaeological sites there, visit the Israeli Museum (new home of the Tyche fresco), and travel both to Ein Kerem (home of John the Baptist) and Bethlehem.
On Thursday 27 June we will drive north to our base at Kibbutz En Gev. During the day on Friday, we will prepare the archaeological site for our season’s work and set up the lab. On Saturday 29 June, we will tour sacred and archaeological sites around the Sea of Galilee (Kursi, Bethsaida, Capernaum, Tabgha, and Chorazin).
After our first two weeks of digging, we will take an overnight trip on July 12 and 13 to the Dead Sea, visiting Qumran, Ein Gedi, and Masada. We return to the states on 26 July.
Our excavation work will begin in the Beta Building on the western side of the site. We will complete work on the assembly hall and the domestic space. During the second half of the season, I expect the team will be smaller, and we will carry out a number of small study projects (mapping two cisterns, opening the entrance to the House of Tyche near the church apse, finishing the eastern room begun last year, etc.)
Watch for more info.