Abstract
This paper reports about an on-going project of my dissertation thesis at the Institute for Classical Archaeology at Charles University in Prague. Etruscan rock-cut tombs with decorated facades are located in inland southern part of historical Etruria, now region Tuscany and Lazio in Italy.
The project is focused on the architecture of the tombs dated to the Hellenistic Period (4th century BC to the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 2nd century BC). In this period a significant change in architecture of the tombs took place -the emphasis was placed on elaboration and originality of the decoration of the facade that reproduces architectural, floral and figural motifs.
Study examines the stylistic evolution of the external decoration of the rock-cut tombs; evaluates its relation with the general evolution of Etruscan funeral architecture and sculpture in Hellenistic Period. Furthermore, confronts it with funeral architecture in the wider contexts of Italia, Magna Graecia and East Mediterranean area.
The study deals with the typology and contains a catalogue of the tomb facades. Representative examples of each of the tomb type are supplemented by a 3D model, created with multi-image photogrammetry technique.
These 3D models serve as a tool for an archaeological analysis of the tomb facades, thanks to the increased readability of worked surface and other actions which allows a virtual environment. Acquired data and 3D models are used for the documentation and digital preservation of the tomb decorations that suffer from heavy erosion caused mainly by water and vegetation.
Paper explains how acquired data can serve also for creation of virtual reconstructions of the tomb decorations that are slowly vanishing and for creation of virtual anastylosis of the tomb facades, which detached fragments of decorations are preserved scattered around sites and museums.