First Report on Tangible heritage - April 2022-March 2023

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

2. TRAINING ON DOCUMENTATION AND IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

3. CURRENT PROCESSING WORK

4. CONSERVATION TRAINING

5. DOCUMENTATION IN THE NAFUSA

6. TRAINING IN THE NAFUSA

7. FUTURE AIMS AND TRAINING OBJECTIVES

ACKOWLEDGEMENTS:

We would like to thank the Insttitut National du Patrimoine de Tunisie and the Department of Antiquities of Libya for their constant support, all our trainees and trainers and collaborators that make this project possible. A special thank to Aliph for funding this project and for supporting us.

Summary

The project has met all the targets for this phase. In September 2022 was conducted the training on vaults conservation, training 5 Tunisian and 3 Libyan (1 woman) conservators. In October 2022 training took place in Tataouine on: impact of climate change, setting ground points with GPS- trimble, mapping using SW map, drone flying and data processing. In total 5 tunisian (2 women) and 2 Libyan archaeologists were trained. The following sites were recorded: villages of Chenini and Douiret, Qasr Zanata, Wadi Zendag. In November 2022 fieldwork was conducted in the Nafusa, the following sites were documented: Sufit (impact of bullet on the Roman mausoleaum), villages of Abu Mhadi, Abu Mousa, Whigou and Qasr Kabaw. In December 2022 4 other Libyan Archaeologists (1 from the Department of Antiquities and 3 from the University of Tarhuna) were trained in Nafusa and were recorded the villages of Qasr Awlad Mahmoud, Qasr Al-Majabra. Data are now processed into 3d models. The work on the intangible heritage has focused on the ancient Amazigh textile Mergoum. Several interviews were conducted in both Libya and Tunisia. (fo each aspect of the training and work a full report has been submitted separately and samples of videos and recording).

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project background

As part of the At the Edge of the Mountain (Partnership for Heritage) project an initial period of training in recording tangible heritage assets was carried out at several archaeological sites in Tataouine, Tunisia and Nafusa (Libya).. In September 2022 the training focused on vaults conservation, and was conducted at the site of Iunca, Tunisia, with the participation of Libyan and Tunisian conservators as trainees. In October 2022, training was provided in aerial and terrestrial based survey for the recording of archaeological settlements, as well as evaluation of impact of climate change in Tataouine. Lectures were provided in the classroom before training was continued in the field to solidify the technical lessons. Further recording and training were conducted in the Nafusa in November and December 2022 by a Libyan Team supported by one member from Durham University .

2. TRAINING ON DOCUMENTATION AND IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE – TATAOUINE OCTOBER 2022

2.1 Climate Change

Trainees: INP - Imen Elaskri, Nadia Tabii, Tarek Boubakri, Ali Mansouri, Samir Borchani; DoA Libya: Mahmoud Hadia, Ahmed Masoud. Trainers: Lisa Mol, Anna Leone, Patricia Edwards (Voke), Massimo Brizzi, Simon Thomas, Mftah Hddad for some parts of the training also Mahmoud Hadia, Ahmed Masoud Under the supervision of: Ammar Othman (INP); Ali El Thabti (INP); Ziad Siala (DoA-Libya)

In October 2022, the team lead by geomorphologist Lisa Mol, delivered the training needed to understand the impact of climate change on the region and the challenges associated with this dramatic change to the landscape.

Of primary concern are the effect that increasing desiccation, through decreased precipitation and increased evaporation, will have on both the built and natural environment. The loss of moisture not only affects the ability for soil to maintain vegetation cover, which in turn protects the underlying ground, but also removes moisture from the slope material. This is particularly problematic for the slope-cut villages, such as Chenini as removal of moisture from these slopes causes the granular materials to experience reduced binding and subsequently a higher failure rate.

To address this issue, the trainees were provided with three types of training:

1. In-classroom training:

a. In-classroom training on climate to provide the trainees with the scientific principles of geohazards, specifically slope instability, and climate change. This covered the elements of changing temperature and precipitation patterns, and the driving factors, as well as the expected climate regimes for the regions in the coming decades. This training took place over 6 hours in the classroom.

b. In-classroom training on geohazards, to show trainees the principles of slope stability and the recognition of developing hazards on their sites. Topics included types of slope failure and their tell-tale signs, as well as calculations of factor of safety and the role of moisture as a stabilising and destabilising agent. This training took place over 4 hours in the classroom.

2. Field training:

The trainees were invited to draw up hazard maps around the area of Chenini, where rockfalls in particular pose a threat to the heritage site. This included the mapping of scars, progressing cracks and slow slumping movements. This training was undertaken in one day in the field.

3. GIS training:

The trainees used the field maps to digitise their on-paper assessment of threats to Chenini. These maps can be complemented with manmade hazard mapping to provide a comprehensive insight into points of stabilisation within the landscape.This was completed during a day-long computer-based practical.

The training provided the students with the tools to identify, map and collate threats to heritage sites within the landscape the sites in their care are set in. In particular in light of climate change, geohazards can pose a growing risk to these sites, necessitating an integration of state-of-the-art climate science into the training curriculum.

2.2 Training in Documentation

This first training served as a model for all the others documentation training, therefore the report is here more detailed.

Trainees: INP - Imen Elaskri, Nadia Tabii, Tarek Boubakri, Ali Mansouri, Samir Borchani; DoA Libya: Mahmoud Hadia, Ahmed Masoud

Trainers: Anna Leone, Patricia Edwards (Voke), Massimo Brizzi, Simon Thomas, Mftah Hddad.

Under the supervision of: Ammar Othman (INP); Ali El Thabti (INP); Ziad Siala (DoA-Libya).

The initial aims of the tangible survey training were twofold.

I. To train heritage professionals in alternative methods of survey and data collection

II. And during the training to record complex archaeological settlements of the Amazigh culture to provide a baseline of data for each site

Providing training was the fundamental goal of the project, and several clear aims and objectives were defined before the training. These were:

• Introduction to archaeological survey (including topographic survey, coordinate systems and GPS survey

• How to use geographical information system (GIS) applications (SW Maps)

• Creating a survey design plan for recording sites of varying archaeological, topographical complexity • Recording with a survey grade GPS

• Topographic and metric survey with Total station

• Aerial survey planning and health and safety

• Flight planning sites of varying complexity using automated flying applications

• Preparing sites for aerial survey, deploying ground control points (GCP’s)

• Aerial survey data collection

• Building inventory recording with SW Maps

• Downloading of data from SW Maps and combination of data in GIS

Training was provided for seven participants from the both the INP and the DOA of Libya. The training consisted of a series of lectures undertaken in the classroom to explain theory and methodology of survey. Following this training was undertaken in the field to put the theory into action. Four separate sites were chosen to carry out fieldwork training and data collection. These were:

Table 1 Site locations

As a direct learning outcome from previous archaeological training projects, it was decided that much smaller teams of trainees would make the training more successful. The idea was to train smaller teams and carry out training on a ‘one to one’ level. This would mean each participant would have an intensive training session allowing them to in turn train other archaeologists in the future. This approach to the training is considered the most effective methodology for lasting and memorable training.

Aerial Survey

Four areas of aerial survey were collected through the sites of Chenini, Guermassa, Ras el Ain and Kastra Zinata. They included in size:

• Chenini (2.49 sqKm’s)

• Guermassa (0.3 sqKm’s)

• Ras el Ain (0.3 sqKm’s)

• Kastra Zinata (7566 m2) with an additional (2.7 sqKm’s) in Wadi Zendagh, surrounding Kastra Zinata

At all sites flights were flown in two directions, in a gridded formation. This methodology was chosen so that both 3 dimensional models of the site and orthomosaics could be produced. The purpose of these data sets is to allow for accurate aerial imagery of the sites with a high level of resolution so that detailed plans, contour mapping and models can be produced foreach one. These data sets will then be utilised to accurately record and locate further ground based surveys.

Processing and analysis of aerial data sets are currently underway and expected additional outputs from them will be detailed mapping of individual buildings which will be used to assist the location and documentation of more detailed ground-based surveys and conservation work.

As a result of the training, each participant will have a much better understanding of the role of UAV survey, its applications and limitations. They should have good knowledge on several UAV techniques and be able to determine on a site-by-site basis what is the appropriate survey to carry out.

Each participant will have gained the ability to assess an archaeological landscape as a whole. They then should be able to design specific research aims and utilise UAV survey where appropriate to meet these objectives. They will also have a good understanding of UAV survey and where, what and when to use this technique in the safest manner possible. Each trainee will understand the necessity of using ground control points (GCPs) when carrying out aerial survey work in order to increase the location accuracy of the outputs. They will know how and where to put out a network GCPs throughout sites of varying complexity. They will also understand how to record in the locations of the GCPs using a detailed GPS.

Each trainee will be able to competently fly a DJI Mavic Pro drone and be able to perform some basic flight manoeuvres and active fail-safe procedures in the event of an aircraft pilot malfunction. The skills they will have learnt to fly this specific drone will also be applicable to multiple alternative UAV’s.

Metric Survey

Metric surveying training was provided in the form of teaching each participant to operate a detailed GPS and the basic use of a Total Station. The training took place within the classroom to explain the differences between the use of working in a local grid and working with absolute coordinates. The GPS survey was utilised to record in the location of the GCPs for the aerial surveys to more accurate location for the outputs of the surveys.

Each trainee should not be experienced in understanding when and what type of equipment and survey is required for different objectives and sites of varying complexities. They should be competent in the use of a GPS.

Further training in the use of a Total Station was also carried out at the site of Ras el Ain. Where the trainees were shown how to create a measured grid covering an archaeological site for the purposes of collecting artefacts correctly located within a site.

Building Inventories

In order to make rapid and accurate plans of individual buildings at the sites of Chenini and Guermassa it is essential that accurate plans are produced for complex archaeological sites that had dense populations. These plans must document the location of each building and also assign an individual identification that are geospatially located. This is so that subsequent surveys and conservation work that is carried out can be accurately recorded and located. It is essential that a strategic condition assessment is carried out however due to the scale and complexity of each site a baseline of data must be recorded first to give each structure its own unique method of identification. Due to the complex nature of the sites and the lack of detailed mapping for each area a basic methodology based upon photographing the entrance to each building has been devised for these sites. These photographs were collected in a GIS application called SW Maps which is a GIS app for collecting, presenting and sharing geographic information on phones and tablets. This application was used as it is free and accessible tool that allows the user to locate themselves with a series of open street mapping and satellite imagery. Photos can be captured that will be geotagged and can then be added to mapping data and recorded in their true location. It can also be used to collect a number of feature types such as point, lines and polygons with associated attribute information. At the sites of Chenini and Guermassa the trainees utilised a series of tablets and the GIS application to record the doorways of numerous buildings. Capturing a photograph per doorway to represent each building. At the site of Chenini 426 individual buildings were recorded. At Guermassa a total of 568 individual buildings were recorded. Whilst these numbers are extensive there was not sufficient time to record every single building at each site.

This was due to the enormous complexity of each site, areas where buildings were inaccessible due to collapse and the sheer volume of buildings. However, they are a representative sample of each site. Following the collection each day of the building inventories the trainees were then taught how to combine all the data collected from SW Maps and taught how to bring the data into an overarching GIS database. Each photograph was displayed with a point and has an integrated link to the photo captured in the field (Figure 2 & 3).

Each trainee will have an understanding on the necessity of collecting photographs that can be accurately located on background mapping. They will be proficient in collecting feature type and photograph data that can be combined into a GIS database for further analysis and structure mapping of a site.

Following the data collection in SW Maps the trainees were taught to download data from each tablet/phone as a .shp files and KMZ (with embedded photographs). They then were taught how to import this data into a GIS geodatabase so that all the data collected could be combined into one single output.

The trainees were taught to extract the location data point for each individual photograph and locate that point on a map. They were then taught how to link each point with the associated photograph so that when the point is accessed on the map a pop up window appears and the photo graph is displayed.

The building inventories data that has been collected and compile in GIS will then be used for the following field seasons to assist the location of further data collection that focuses on recording the interior of the buildings.

3 CURRENT PROCESSING WORK (SAMPLES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED WITH THE REPORT)

Aerial data

Data processing of the aerial data is on going with the sites of Wadi Zendagh, Chenini and Ras el Ain are processed. Once the aerial data has been fully processed the high resolution orthomosaics will be imported into GIS to be used for subsequent terrestrial surveys and to serve as a base map for future survey and conservation recording.

Further output such as 3D models, point clouds and contour maps are also being produced as supplementary outputs to assist the documentation of each site.

Maps are being produced for all sites as a series of lines and polygons that digitize the boundary walls of all houses and any other archaeological features so detailed plans can be produced. This work will be completed before the next training season in April 2023.

Building inventories

Each photograph from Chenini and Guermassa that was recorded for building inventories is currently being assessed and given a unique ID and description. This analysis will provide basic information on location, type of house formation and basic level of preservation. This information is being added as attribute information with the GIS database.

A more detailed building recording form is now being constructed to be utilised in field training in April 2023. This will build upon the locations of the buildings that have been located during the 2022 training season. This form will be used to record more information about interiors of buildings, their level of conservation and details of any decorations or inscriptions.

4 CONSERVATION TRAINING – SEPTEMBER 2022 – IUNCA

Trainees: INP - Lotfi Mnassri, Habib Maraoui, Walid Bahri, Hakim Sallami, Boukthir Charmi, Jamal Baghni; DoA Libya - Maryam Kara, Fatfat Mohamed

Trainers: Team led by Stefano Volta, Dario Guerini, Anna Leone, Maurizio Marinato, Patricia Edwards.

Under the supervision of Ammar Othman (INP), Ziad Siala and Zarrug Mohad (DoA-Libya); Translator: Susan Abugrara

The training course, led by Stefano Volta, has been organized in two phases:

1. Theory is classroom – it consisted on a series of presentations addressing major problems in conservation of vaults and methods of intervention

2. Practice – conducted in the field at the fort of Iunca, in one area which also included a vault, on the south east of the building.

These two activities were strictly linked: theory in the morning and practice in the afternoon on the field.

The training developed starting from the fundamental in situ observation of the degradation phenomena, to fully understand all the conservation problems, including the less evident ones. This first very important phase took the form of the elaboration of specific thematic graphics to document the various degradation phenomena.

Each participant independently elaborated the graphs, which were subsequently shared with the other participants: this aspect is fundamental for the acquisition of critical autonomy in assessing the state of conservation of each part of the building.

After this preliminary phase of study, the specific phases of intervention on the building were designed and carried out to compensate for the deterioration, which can be summarized as follows.

Removal of loose deposits accumulated on surfaces (sand, earth, dust, etc.).

Mechanical removal (mallet and chisel) of previous interventions in cement because they are not suitable for the correct conservation of ancient masonry (presence of soluble salts in the cement, different elastic modulus, etc.).

Consolidation of the stone matrixes of loose stones using ammonium phosphate (DAP) poultices, the last frontier of inorganic consolidation of limestone-based stone materials, developed by international research institutions in the field of cultural heritage conservation (for eg Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence, etc.). This type of intervention is very effective and simple to apply, provided it is carried out correctly: this is the reason why all the participants practically carried out the operation in the construction site-school, in such a way as to learn a good ability of the consolidation practice.

Compensation of the bedding mortar between the stones, extremely incomplete even in depth, with the insertion of cannulas, preparatory to the injection consolidation of the voids inside the masonry, aimed at improving its structural stability.

It is a simple operation, but rarely disclosed and practiced, however indispensable for a lasting and decisive conservative intervention of the instability of the ancient masonry itself.

To carry out this operation, the problem of thw natural lime mortars was tackled.

Several samples of mortar of different colours and granulometry were made to identify the most suitable mixtures for grouting and the formulation of the consolidating injection mortar. Sands of different colours and granulometry were used, deepening the topic of the binder/aggregates ratio and mixing water.

Consolidation of internal voids in the masonry using the manual syringe injection technique of natural lime mortar.

This operation was prolonged over time due to the need to allow the progressive setting of the injected mortar: in fact, it is essential that the participants understand this important aspect and the time required for the materials, since the uncontrolled injection of a large quantity of mortar can cause serious damage, including even the extrusion of the stones.

At the conclusion of the course, some missing stones of the masonry were repositioned, with a structural function.

The basic stone working techniques and the most suitable methodologies for their positioning were addressed.

This training was an essential part in preparation of the conservation project, but also to facilitate and make possible in the

5. DOCUMENTATION IN THE NAFUSA – NOVEMBER 2022

Participants: Mftah Hddad, Mahmoud Hadia, Ahmed Masoud, Massimo Brizzi, Mohamed Zawya

The mission which took place in the Jebel Nafusa from October 30th to November 10th has been organized to carry out the photogrammetric survey of five main sites selected following a dedicated survey in May 2022. The sites were chosen together with colleagues from the Libyan Department of Antiquities and Dr Muftah Haddad from the University of Tarouna on the basis of their significance in relation to the various activities that will be carried out there during the project.

Sufit, about 7.5 km south-east of Yefren, is the site of a late antique mausoleum which was in the middle of a prolonged warfare between government forces and rebels during the 2011 revolution. It was chosen as a case study for developing the methodology for the assessment of the impact of war damage on historical monuments.

Zawiat Abu Mahdi, about 10 km east of Yefren, is a compound in which, near a large modern mosque, the ancient smaller mosque and the madrasa built in the 9th century AH are preserved. It is named after its location in the Gebel Abu Mahdi, which is located nearby the city of Kikla. The Zawiat Abu Mahdi soon become one of the most important Islamic religious centre in the North Africa. The two buildings need some urgent interventions especially in the roof vault but they do not show irreparable alterations. The Abu Mahdi mosque and madrasa offer a potential case study both for the development of a building oddly neglected compared to its historical and religious significance, but also to undertake a research in the territory in order to frame these buildings in the history of the area that is basically unknown.

About three km NE of Abu Mahdi, in a parallel wadi, near the village of Abu Musa in the Kikla territory a high cliff preserves a row of houses perched in the natural shelter offered by the rock about 30 m above the bottom of the wadi. It is a witness of a settlement modality peculiar to this territory, now abandoned and exposed to decay by the weather.

The site of Wighou is located about 20 km east of Kabaw in the western sector of Jebel Nafusa. The site was famous in the early centuries of Islam and its mosque is one of the oldest mentioned by literary sources in the 2nd century after the Hegira. Despite the total absence of scientific investigations, in the site about twenty buildings are recorded, of a type similar to those documented in the near site of Sharus, but better preserved. The site is larger than 55 hectares. The extensive mapping of this site was therefore considered essential to then proceed to the systematic study of the different parts of the settlement.

In the centre of the historic quarter of Kabaw stands one of the best preserved collective granaries characteristic of the populations of Jebel Nafusa. The qasr-granaries are an identity trait of this territory, which all communities aspire to preserve, restore and promote. Kasr Kabaw was judged the most suitable granary to carry out conservation activities aimed at tracing valid methodological protocols for all buildings of this type in Jebel Nafusa. Its complete documentation is therefore the first necessary step planned to proceed with this activities.

The mission has been carried out by Dr Mftah Haddad of the University of Taruna, Mohamed Zawia, former Jebel Nafusa official of the Department of Antiquities of Libya, Mahmoud Hadia and Ahmed Masoud of the Department of Antiquities of Libya and Massimo Brizzi of the University of Durham. A DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 drone was used with a 20M pixels camera, 24 mm equivalent lens field of view, specially acquired for the project. Due to problems related to the operation of the flight planning software inside its controller, all flights were performed in manual mode. The topography was performed with a Trimble Catalyst DA2 GPS antenna, powered by Trimble ProPoint GNSS positioning technology, and with a Leica TS02 power 7" total station.

A) Sufit - 1st-2nd November 2022 (the 3D model has been submitted as sample)

The late-antique mausoleum of Sufit is a squared tower-like stone building about 5 m high, standing isolated on top of a hill where the government army had mechanically dug a deep and wide defensive trench right around the monument. Even today, more than ten years after the events of the conflict, the area still shows clear signs of the fighting that took place, including the carcasses of two armoured vehicles and an infinite number of shell casings of different calibres. Accounts reported by dr. Haddad who visited and worked on the site in the immediate aftermath of the conflict, recall armed clashes and explosions against government militias who had entrenched themselves on this part of the hill, one of which affected the upper part of the mausoleum.

The data set of this site therefore had to incorporate information regarding the morphology of the surrounding area, including a second building located about 250 m on a hill in front of the mausoleum, also involved in the armed clashes, and the documentation of the mausoleum itself on a scale sufficient for recording even minimal damage of the monument. First of all, a network of ten ground control points was set in the two areas and 13 markers were positioned on the walls of the mausoleum, including the internal chamber, then the entire network was measured with a total station and georeferenced through 3 measurements by the GPS antenna.

The shots from UAV were organized in three different flights: two general sets of shots of the two sites at an average altitude of 30 m from the ground and a third one specific for the detail of the mausoleum. In the latter, the drone took frontal shots at close range from the monument 360 degrees around and at different heights. A final set of photos was taken from the ground inside the mausoleum chamber. From these shots, three georeferenced models were generated using the Agisoft Metashape software and subsequently merged into a single georeferenced model. The level of accuracy and detail obtained through the elaboration of about 100 million faces, allows the mapping of the decay of the monument directly on the 3D model or on the 2D drawings obtained from this, plans, cross-sections and elevations, delivered to the competent specialists.

B) Abu Mahdi – 3rd-4th November 2022

The Abu Mahdi buildings are located halfway up the western side of a deep wadi, near the aforementioned modern mosque, an almost entirely abandoned village and a cemetery area where are the ruins of a marabout recently destroyed by Salafi militias. In this campaign, through UAV photos, a photogrammetric survey was carried out of an area of about 20 hectares including the ancient town and its surroundings. Here a first quick ground survey was carried out by Dr Haddad in which ancient architectural elements of some interest were identified. The area to be surveyed, too vast to be documented in a single flight, was divided in two and so the twelve ground control points were positioned and measured with GPS in two separate batches, with the attention of performing the flights on two different days but in similar light conditions.

The detailed survey of the buildings of the mosque and the madrasa will be carried out with adequate equipment following the necessary cleaning of the rooms.

C) Abu Musa – 4th November 2022

The hanging houses in the cliff of Abu Musa were the subject of a quick and impromptu documentation, above all as a training for the DoA staff in order to be able to repeat the procedure in similar situations.

The houses can be reached via a strenuous climb. The safe installation of photogrammetric control points over the buildings is almost impossible without specific climbing means and equipment. A topographic base of two GCPs was therefore installed at the two extremes of the houses at the base of the cliff, in conditions of good visibility of the buildings for both stations. With the total station, the two points were reciprocally measured and a series of five control points, chosen on the buildings among features easy to recognize also on photos, were then measured directly with laser function from both stations and. The two GCPs were then measured with GPS and the UAV flight was carried out with frontal and nadiral shots of the cliff wall for framing the area. The entire operation took less than an hour and a vernacular architectural context at high risk of destruction was documented.

D) Wighou – 6th-8th November 2022

The size of the site of Wighou required as the first operation on the field a survey aimed at finding the site's limits. In fact, the inhabited area is characterized by small groups of buildings arranged along low slopes which offer access to underground rooms cut under the buildings themselves and perhaps connected to them. These groups are spread over a vast area, sometimes their presence is detectable only by scanty clues such as concentration of stones or the aforementioned cuts in the rock. Also here it was necessary to organize the survey in different UAV flights with relative sets of GCPs, altogether 14, measured georeferenced through GPS measurements. The flights according to a grid with N-S and E-W passages at an average altitude of 30-35 m were performed in manual mode. This was the major difficulty of this work, overcome through a teamwork by visually targeting the drone's routes and communicating any corrections to the pilot. The processing of over three thousand images with the Agisoft Metashape software generated a high definition model of the entire site, from which the topographic plan with detailed altimetry and the orthophoto were in turn generated. These elaborations have already made it possible to identify an area of the site which preserves evidence of an annular building, probably a kasr, and to organize the superficial collection of materials for the definition of the chronology of the site, currently under study.

E) Kasr Kabaw – 9th-10th November 2022

Kabaw granary sits on a hill in the centre of the historic quarter of the town. It looks like an ellipsoidal building measuring 60 by 25 metres, entirely closed to the outside with the exception of the single entrance. It is entirely preserved with the sole exception of the eastern side where part of the building collapsed after a flood in the second half of the last century.

Inside, the storing-cells are arranged on vertical stacks placed side by side in a disorderly manner up to the overlapping of 5 different levels of cells. The conservation problems of the building derive both from the type of materials used, medium-small sized stones bound with earth and plaster mortar, and from the construction method which did not follow an organic design but is the result of a protracted addition of elements.

The realization of a measured survey for this building is therefore an indispensable step not only for the mapping of the decay and the design of the future interventions but above all for the verification of the static situation and the risks connected to possible telluric events or alterations of the masonry cohesion due to rainstorms like the one that caused the damage in the 1950s.

The creation of a complete 3D survey that can be used for this purpose implies the systematic survey of all the storing-cells of the building, which in the Kasr Kabaw are around 120. It is not surprising that a survey of this type has never been carried out to date not only in Kabaw but in all the kasr of this type, Libyan or Tunisian, including the Kasr el-Haji, at the foot of Jebel Nafusa, registered among the monuments of the UNESCO World Heritage.

In the November 2022 campaign it was decided to start surveying the external surfaces of the monument using drone photos, to then proceed with a different methodology to survey the individual cells. A network of 6 GCPs was therefore created around and inside the kasr, measured with a total station as a closed polygon. From each vertex, plastic markers were applied to the walls inside the building and monographic points were measured along the outer wall, used as control points of the vertical structures. Given the relative narrowness of this network, a station was set about 110 m SE in front of the Muhammad Sultan al Kabawi mosque, and this and two other vertices of the network were georeferenced by GPS measurement.

As with the Sufit mausoleum, several UAV flights were also carried out in Kabaw to create the territorial framing with nadiral and oblique shots and for the documentation of the walls of the monument, with frontal close-up shots at different heights around the external wall and along the inner wall.

The realization of this preliminary model is still in progress. It will have to be integrated with the survey of the individual cells using lidar technology, recently tested in Tataouine in similar contexts. The integration of the different point clouds is entrusted to the markers left in situ and to parts of the internal masonry intentionally detected for the overlapping.

6 TRAINING ON DOCUMENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION IN NAFUSA – DECEMBER 2022

Trainees: DoA- Saned Tabbal; Azzaytuna University – Tarhuna Salem M. Salem; Osama Almuzoghi; Mohammed Muftah.

Trainers: Mftah Hddad, Mahmoud Hadia, Ahmed Masoud

Under the Supervision of Mohamed Zawya

This fieldwork represents the last part of the first phase of At the Edge of the Mountains (Partnership for Heritage) Project that carried in the Gebel Nafusa during the last week of December 2022 and includes documenting some archaeological and historical sites in the Gebel Nafusa, in addition to conducting a training program for four new archaeologists on the use of some modern techniques in documenting cultural heritage sites and features. During the first two days, December the 22-23, first the trainers introduced the project program and objectives to the trainees, and gave them a theoretical explanation about the equipment and programs that will be used in the fieldwork to document the targeted sites. The theoretical lessons included how to use the drone and the most important Apps that serve it, how to place Ground Control Points and then take a reading of their coordinates by the Trimble GPS device, and how to save GPS readings using its application that is installed on the Android tablet

A) Village and Qasr Awlad Mahmoud

The village of Ouled Mahmoud is located about 300 km southwest of Tripoli and 30 km east of Nalut. It is considered one of the Gebel Nafusa villages that is located on one of the impregnable mountain peaks overlooking the course of the Wadi Awlad Mahmoud from the south, which is fed by a number of small tributaries.

On the next two days 24th – 25th of December, practically the trainees started practicing what they have learnt on the documentation of Awlad Mahmoud Qasr and Village. The fieldwork here included fixing the GCPs, recording GCPs coordinates by the Trimble GPS, Aerial survey by the drone, and documenting the archaeological features using the SW Maps App that is installed on Android tablets. The latter task covered all architectural elements such as the granary qasr, remains of built and underground dwellings, religious buildings, olive oil presses, terrace walls and the surrounding traditional agricultural fields.

B) Village and Qasr al-Majabra (26 – 27 of December)

The second cultural heritage site that documented during this phase of the fieldwork project was Village and Qasr al-Majabra. It is located c. 11 km, NE of the previous village, on one of the mountain outcrops that, like the neighbouring village of el-Cherba, dominate the mountainous escarpment overlooking the Wadi al-Majabra (Fig. 02).

The survey team applied the same methods and methodology as at the previous site. There is a great similarity in features between the two sites, both qasrs occupy the most fortified place, surrounded by other features that are scattered from around the qasr at the top, to the edge of the slope at the bottom, close to the wadi watercourse (Fig. 03). What distinguishes this site from the previous one is the large number of dwellings carved under the foot of the mountain slope close to the orchards that are located at the bottom of the wadi.

On afternoon of the 27th of December, the trainees had a lesson on how to upload the recorded data from the portable devices to the computer and display it on Google Earth Pro.

7 FUTURE AIMS AND TRAINING OBJECTIVES

A second season of data collection and training will be carried out in April 2023. Trainees will complete training in the following

Processing aerial data collected with drone 27 Phase 1

Analysis of building inventories data and production of maps

Collection of data using pro forma sheets

Advanced training in data integration in GIS

Data collection for interior of buildings; analysis of level of conservation and recording inscriptions Advanced metric survey with total station and GPS

Evaluation of stone deterioration and building deterioration

Analysis of materials

Further work and training will follow in The Nafusa, in particular with the evaluation of the impact of the conflict at the site of Suffit.

Another recording session in preparation of the conservation will take place in Libya in October/November 2023