Rapid 3D Recording of Archaeological Sites Found During Construction Development

SUMMARY Current archaeological research in Greece is greatly enhanced from urban construction development that results in new archaeological finds. Whilst these findings are very important, financial pressures from during urban development result in either being destroyed or reburied to facilitate the construction of new structures. Invariably, valuable knowledge from such sites is lost forever. This paper discusses how modern surveying techniques can be used as foundation for preservation of cultural heritage. Specifically, the use of terrestrial laser scanning and digital photogrammetry to rapidly record detailed and definitive three-dimensional information from an early Helladic period (circa 2300BC) settlement in the southern area of Athens is discussed. The specific site has been exposed but will be completely destroyed due to a major road construction. The data capturing procedure during excavation is described and processing strategies are discussed. Finally, virtual models of the site created from the resultant data sets are shown. These can be easily disseminated to the research community and to the general public demonstrating that no archaeological site need be ‘lost to posterity’ due to its burial or destruction by urban development.