WIP of a Roman grave

museummaker

Very cool,

Was the large square opening originally covered or world it have been open to the sky?

dale

So would this have been the grave of a fairly influential individual, or is this an example of common grave construction?

Gaieus

Hi guys, thanks...

Well, originally the vault went all the way along and the only "entrance" was that small one where there is that ramp dug for it (and somehow whitewashed or "plastered" with lime as we could tell).
Later it was walled up and the vault was broken through for access. Now this wouldn't be unique as most of these crypts are found broken into and robbed but there was indeed some signs that they built some structure above and the only possible explanation (so far) has been that they used that as an entrance. I doubt however that it had such thick walls but for the time being, we pulled the sides out to the side of the chamber itself. We'll see later (and I need better textures to better represent the wall textures we found).

Dale - probably more "luxurious" than an average grave but compared to these, not really (and these are really crappy images on the net now...)

dale

And this would be for one individual, not a crypt containing, for instance an extended family?

Gaieus

Well, this was found empty. In the Middle Ages, the main parish church of the town was built on top and at least then they cleared it up. But in crypts of similar size, there are often more people - usually buried at different times so I guess yes, this may have been a family crypt, too and therefore the "second entrance" (if true at all).

If you have a look at this one (sorry, very small), there are three graves inside:

another shot from the other side:

Aerilius

Was this opening connected to the parish church? In Rome, some churches have an opening to the (parochial) crypt, with a balustrade around for pilgrims, or similar like a double chapel (two chapels above each other). Maybe a bit absurd, because the roman family would need to have a special importance for the church.

Take another deeper look. Maybe you find something like this extraordinary ~300 vintage.

Gaieus

No, it was not connected - at least architecturally. They may have found it and maybe even re-used it as a crypt (it was under one of the aisles) but if they found it, it was definitely incidental. This crypt is from the 4th century (or beginning of the 5th latest) and the Parish church was only built some time during the 12-13th centuries (and that aisle only in the 15th century).

We do not have much of that church either as it was demolished during the Turkish occupation and this is what we have instead now:

Exterior

Interior:

But at least we kept it (although use it as the main Parish church nowadays again)

So all in all, things are pretty difficult here - but I guess this is the same in every historic place. My Archaeology Dept. had an excavation in Zülpich (Germany - I know youknow) and there there was a Roman bath under a Medieval monastery and now they are building (or have built) some modern structure over those layers.

cadmunkey

Love reading your threads Gaieus, they are always interesting!

Daniel

excellent texturing, Gaieus.

mitcorb

@Gaieus:
Wow!! I am really amazed at the graphics on the walls of these crypts.

Gaieus

Thanks guys.

@mitcorb - wait till I really have the time to update my little website about these things. I actually worked on a couple of excavations in these crypts and have abundant materials about them (including really good photos, too).

What I am up to ATM is to make a whole bunch of those panoramas and allow the visitors to literally walk about in the Roman city and cemetery - clicking on hotspots for info and images and to access the next panorama etc.

dale

@gaieus said:

Thanks guys.

@mitcorb - wait till I really have the time to update my little website about these things. I actually worked on a couple of excavations in these crypts and have abundant materials about them (including really good photos, too).

What I am up to ATM is to make a whole bunch of those panoramas and allow the visitors to literally walk about in the Roman city and cemetery - clicking on hotspots for info and images and to access the next panorama etc.

That is a hell of a good idea Gaieus, I'd love to see that. Keep us updated.

Gaieus

@dale said:

That is a hell of a good idea Gaieus, I'd love to see that. Keep us updated.

I will, I will.

Currently the financial background is the issue. I have been invited to the founding assembly of a certain "Heritage Cluster" of 3 or 4 counties here (whatever that means - I am not that learned in these economic terms) lead by our local Heritage Trust that runs the World Heritage sites as well as for the new exhibition of the Archaeological Museum. The two should be enough for me to work on this project for a year!

This is the site (sorry for the bad audio quality - and for the Requiem; I guess that goes well with a cemetery).

[flash=600,470:4xegwpz1]http://www.youtube.com/v/UNzVpzpi0EA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1[/flash:4xegwpz1]

BTW I am still not happy with the results. There should be better textures - just these ones "look most" like the original stone cover and building materials. The guy does not even want any "plants" in there - I had to sneak some basic stuff in (and we haven't talked about grass yet then ).

Aerilius

@unknownuser said:

I played around with panorama software (because you3dview only works with internet connection) and found Panosaldo (opensource, in fact that is behind you3dview). It allows to make tours with hotspots.
I was lucky that I didn't have to learn how to open/edit flash files, but it is necessary to work with xml files .
They have a new graphical user interface (not free) SpinControl

This is also ruled by xml files an also they have a visual addon (commercial of course - but if I get some business with it, it will definitely be worth that couple of dozen of Euros).

@unknownuser said:

Also I would be interested what Google does with it's very sophisticated panorama system (now they want to include World Heritage Sites)

Certainly there would be potential in that but I doubt it will be as configurable as these other pieces of software. I also read the WH site inclusion but that is for Street View (i.e. existing stuff and outdoors) only at least ATM.

@unknownuser said:

The surrounding walls are a bit bluish and tiling, but I like the stone floor!

I know, that texture is really bad (the "client" insisted on it). I will definitely need to develop my own texture collection made from scratch and from photos of the real buildings. I still have a long way to go of course.