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KHIRBET CANA - Could This be the Ancient Biblical Town? - Part III

Lili Eylon

Recently unearthed evidence, aided by computer technology, points to a town in Galilee as the possible Cana of miracles. Part 3

.......continued from Part 2

Field architect Aaro Soederlund from Finland digitized the finds, first in 2D, later in 3D format. "The Pilgrim Cave is perhaps the most extraordinary place in Cana," he says. "It consists of at least five spatial units. As we measured it, manually, we used the base line method. Against that we were then able to erect the sectional horizontal sub-lines in a 90 degrees angle to it. Photos were taken systematically both by digital and traditional cameras and used as a reference when modeling the details." Sony and Nikon digital cameras, a 35mm camera and Sony Digital Video camera were used to record images.

A scanner was used for digitizing the field drawings for guidelines under the CAD-views The scanner was used also for taking the height data from detailed topographical maps to model the correct shape to the landscape, on top of which the archaeological details were then added.

As the principal modelling and drawing tool ArchiCAD 6.5 and ArchiTerra turned out to be fast and almost inexhaustible. In addition to documentary plans and surface models, animations, QTVR (Quicktime Virtual Reality)  models and still images were produced with ArchiCAD 6.5 add-ons.

"The drawings were scanned into the computer where they were used under the ArchiCAD screens showing the respective plans and sections. When the 'sculpted' model was in balance with the drawings on all of the screens, it was ready to be used for producing field-stills, animations and QTVR's."

As for the cisterns, Soederlund continues, the modeled group of cisterns is the richest known to date: a small bell-shaped (believed to be a) silo with skylight, another big bell-shaped cistern with a big skylight, an angled plastered staircase leading down to a plastered mikve (ritual bath) and a big rectangular (sewage) cistern

Cana find - cistern.

From the beginning of the dig in 1998 GIS technology has been integrated in the work. ArcView GIS combines orthophotos, reports, databases and surveys for analysis by the excavation team as well as by future excavators. The team also develops a virtual world in which students, the general public and scholars can view the reconstructed site. This virtual world is presented in two forms: one uses ArcExplorer, the other draws on Dreamworld technology. The latter allows persons to move around a virtual world that presents three-dimensional views of the site. Real archaeology through GIS technology has moved into the virtual world and serves as an educational, scientific and research tool.

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