Digitization of a Roman archaeological site
“Sucidava Moesica – The beginning of research. Two millennia of history and legends”
Technical information about the project:
- Digitization of the site using terrestrial photogrammetry
- 10 ground control points measured precisely with GNSS equipment – RTK Ntrip corrections
- 927 photos – Canon EOS R8 – full frame mirrorless camera, RAW format
- Tripod stabilization, zoom lens fixed at 24 focal length – for objects
- Agisoft Metashape 2.2.2 processing
DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY WORK
The objective was to document the excavated surface and archaeological context in 3D for the 2025 research campaign.
The terrestrial photogrammetry method was used—in other words, manually capturing enough photos with sufficient common coverage for the virtual reconstruction of the site and the objects studied.
Measurement control and georeferencing were performed using GNSS Rtk equipment.
Products delivered to the beneficiary: 1mm GSD georeferenced orthophoto, textured mesh, and DTM.
The photos were captured manually with a Canon camera, as the drone could not be used due to the vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the excavation area.
The digital data was seamlessly integrated into the 1970 Stereographic coordinate system, together with the data previously obtained from the LiDAR flight for the entire study area (110 ha).
All of the above work is part of the project organized by the Primus Art Laboratory Association in partnership with the Constanța Museum of National History and Archaeology, and co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration.
Historical information about the project:
Mr. Sorin Marcel COLESNIUC, archaeologist and scientific director of the site, provides us with some details about the work:
“In 2024, the first systematic archaeological research campaign was launched in the Roman-Byzantine fortification of Sucidava Moesica.
The archaeological site of the Sucidava Moesica fortress is located on the right bank of the Danube, near the town of Izvoarele in Constanța County.
Situated on a high terrace surrounded by ditches carved out by torrents, at the fork of the river through an arm that leads to the Bărăgan plain, the geographical configuration gives the place the appearance of a natural fortress. The Geto-Dacians understood the strategic advantage of this location for building a fortification, as did the Romans a few centuries later.
The systematic archaeological research begun here aims to highlight the characteristic features of the evolution of the Roman-Byzantine fortification Sucidava Moesica, Satu Nou, Oltina commune, Constanța county, as part of the political, military, economic, social, religious, and cultural phenomena that took place in the Istro-Pontic region during the Hellenistic, Roman, and Roman-Byzantine periods, and its relationship with the population in the nearby settlements and with the migrant populations. Sucidava Moesica apparently had a tower at each corner, as well as at the gate and on the side facing the Danube.
Sucidava Moesica apparently had a tower at each corner, as well as at the gate and on the side facing the Danube. Part of the aqueduct made of ceramic pipes, which brought water into the fortress by capturing several springs in the area, is still preserved. Also, the numerous bronze coins from the 5th century AD, discovered within the perimeter of the Roman-Byzantine fortress, prove that Sucidava enjoyed peace and prosperity during this period. The fortification is surrounded by a defensive moat on the east, west, and south sides, with the Danube to the north.
The fortification is surrounded by a defensive moat on the east, west, and south sides, with the Danube to the north. The gate of the fortification is located on the southwest side, from where two roads start: one to the southwest, towards Păcuiul lui Soare, and the other to the southeast, towards Altinum. The aqueduct built of ceramic pipes, which captured water from the springs in the area, is still partially preserved.
More historical information will be available once the results of the archaeological research conducted by Mr. Sorin Marcel COLESNIUC (MINAC) – scientific director of the archaeological site – are published.